Manchester United: Marcus Rashford can score free kicks like Cristiano Ronaldo, says Paul Scholes

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes believes Marcus Rashford will soon be able to offer the same threat from free kicks just as Cristiano Ronaldo did.

Rashford, 18, has begun to build a reputation as a goal poacher in his first handful of appearances for the United senior team, scoring two goals in each of his first two games against FC Midtjylland and Arsenal, each of them impressive, instinctive finishes.

The appearances saw him play through the centre but Louis van Gaal moved the teenager to right- wing in the Europa League defeat to Liverpool. While Rashford's efforts so far have all the trademarks of a pure no. 9, Scholes believes the youngster will soon start surprising people with the quality and range of goals he can score.

"Rashford is no surprise to me at all," he told the United We Stand fanzine. "I've seen him play since he was 14 or 15 and then in Paul McGuiness's [former United under-18s coach] side.

"You always knew the talent was there. He's obviously only played a few times for the first-team and his goals have been what you'd call 'goalscorers' goals' but he's got so much more than that.

"He's quick and he's good outside the box and he can smash a ball too. You've not seen any yet, but he hits free kicks in a dipping fashion, almost the way [Cristiano] Ronaldo does."

Rashford's immediate impact saw him named United's player of the month for February. The 18-year-old only featured in two of the club's seven fixtures that month but his scintillating performances against FC Midtjylland and Arsenal saw him secure 56% of the supporters' vote, collated through United's official website.

His rise has also seen England manager Roy Hodgson leave the door open for a shock call-up to his squad for this summer's European Championship, having only been capped at Under-18 level so far.

"I would neither rule him in or rule him out, I just hope he can do well," Hodgson said. "I have been watching Rashford for two years, so I have known about him for a long time. He is in our system."