Rashford 'rescued' Aston Villa star Lehmann in Chinawhite nightclub

Marcus Rashford has been lauded as a 'gent' after 'inviting Aston Villa star 'Alisha Lehmann to a private area' in a  nightclub when 'she was mobbed on arrival'.

The footballers, who had not previously met, ran into each other on a night out in Manchester's Chinawhite, with Rashford recognising the Swiss international.

Reports in the Sun claim Lehmann was 'mobbed' by a group of men on her arrival at the nightclub, at which point the Manchester United forward offered his help.

A source at the nightclub told the Sun: 'Marcus cleared a table and invited her and her friends to join them. It was the first time they'd met but he knew who Alisha was.

'They exchanged a few words and she thanked him then they carried on partying with their separate sets of friends. She thought he was a gent.'

On the pitch, Rashford has been enjoying the best goal scoring season of his career after reaching 29 goals in 51 appearances.

He as already picked up one trophy this season after United won the League Cup earlier this year, and despite crashing out of the Europa League to Sevilla the Red Devils could still finish this season with two trophies and a top four finish if they finish their league campaign well and beat Man City in the FA Cup final.

13 of Rashford's goals this season have come outside of the Premier League, meaning he is still two behind his career best tally in the competition, and four away from the 20 goal mark.

For Lehmann, the going has been tougher this season. After impressing in her final season in Switzerland by bagging 23 goals in just 31 games, she has struggled to match her goalscroing form in England in spells at West Ham and now Aston Villa.

She has found the net four times in 28 appearances this season, and has been a key player in Carla Ward's side.

Villa currently sit fifth the in the Women's Super League, and were unlucky to not reach the FA Cup final after a solid semi final performance was undone by a Sam Kerr winner for Chelsea.

They will next be in action against Reading on Sunday, while United play Brighton on Thursday night.