Man Utd fans attack Marcus Rashford and slam forward for going clubbing after Man City defeat

Big things were expected of the forward back in the summer after he plundered 30 goals across all competitions last term.

Yet Rashford has regressed alarmingly in the time since and has found the net just once so far.

On Sunday night, the 26-year-old went clubbing to celebrate his birthday.

He attended a private bash with close friends and family. While the party went on until 3.30am, it's unclear what time the United star departed.

Fans online are far from happy with his antics, however, and have taken to X to vent their fury.

One user said: "Damn, I thought Rashford had a good attitude…"

A second vented: "I hope Rashford gets dropped after this. That would be the silver lining in this story."

Another brought exiled Jadon Sancho into the argument, adding: "Sando 2.0."

A fourth fan said: "Why is always us can't these players be mature at least a day."

A fifth opined: "Sick and tired of all these players."

And a sixth raged: "Ten Hag should have him for that."

Those close to Rashford, however, insist the event was pre-planned.

That seems to suggest it's just unfortunate for the forward that his night out coincided with United being consigned to yet another defeat.

And some fans have opted to defend the player, with one saying: "And? Did anything happen? Did someone die? Who got pregnant or arrested? Was he found in a pool of his own puke? Did he fight anyone? Tell me what did he do except have a late night and a few drinks?????"

A second said: "I’m sick of the ‘hate on Rashford agenda’ yes he hasn’t been on form but neither has ANY of the team yet everyone is pointing the finger at Rashford."

"I forget you can’t celebrate your birthday bc you lost a football game," raged another fan.

A fourth weighed in by saying: "Why do we hate on players for living their life lol so weird to me."

And a fifth said: "Let the man live his life."

United desperately need Rashford to discover his best form as their season risks going from bad to worse.

They're currently eighth in the Premier League table, having won just five of their opening 10 matches.

United are facing a fight to qualify for next season's Champions League, with just three points to their name out of a possible nine.

And the Red Devils can be forgiven for feeling worried ahead of Wednesday night's Carabao Cup showdown with Newcastle (8pm).

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Meanwhile, despite United's poor defeat to City, manager Erik ten Hag insisted his side were on the up.

“When you see the first half it is toe-to-toe and just the penalty changes the game, but even then we could have returned in the game with the shot of Scott McTominay just before half-time," he said.

"For chances it was very toe-to-toe and also in the previous games against them in the FA Cup final and January it was very close.

"So the probability that we could win was there in all the games.”

Ten Hag added: “The three games before we won, and the spirit is very good, so I think we are on the way up.

“The start was difficult but we are on the way up.

"I am sure when we have some injured players coming back then our side will be stronger. We have to be patient.”