Darren Bent has said that he does 'not believe Marcus Rashford is a world class footballer' insisting that 'he lacks consistency compared to Arsenal star Bukayo Saka'.
Rashford scored 30 goals in 56 appearances across all competitions for Manchester United last season, being ranked as the club's top goals scorer during the 2022-23 campaign.
His stats after the opening five games of the new Premier League season, mirror those at the beginning of the previous campaign, with the winger having recorded one goal and one assist in his first five league appearances.
His first goal came in United's 3-1 loss to Arsenal at the beginning of the month, a defeat that compounded what's been an underwhelming start for Erik ten Hag's side, with United dropping to 13 in the table having now lost three matches.
Former Tottenham, Aston Villa and Fulham centre-forward, Bent, has offered his opinion on Rashford's recent form, dismissing claims that the winger is 'world class' stating that he 'goes missing too often'.
'We saw Rashford have a purple patch after the weekend where he was unstoppable,' he said to talkSPORT
'But too often over the last two years, he'd have a period where he's hot and then goes missing. Goes hot and then goes missing.
'You need someone who's consistent. So when people talk about world class - not for me. No way.'
In 364 senior appearances for the club, the United academy graduate has returned 124 goals and 69 assists.
At the start of the season, Rashford revealed he had set his sights on breaking Wayne Rooney's all time Manchester United goal record (253) after putting pen to paper on a new £300,000-per-week contract with United.
'Hopefully I will [break Wayne Rooney's all-time United goal record],' Rashford said.
'You never know what's going to happen, but I'm all about scoring goals and trying to make assists. There's a chance that it can happen.'
While he scored some impressive goals last season, including his stunning solo effort during Man United's Carabao Cup victory against Burnley, Bent believes forward, who notably has 16 goals in 55 appearances for England, lacks consistency compared to Arsenal's Bukayo Saka.
'When people look at the numbers that Rashford puts up compared to Saka; Saka is so much more consistent that Rashford. Week in week out,' Bent continued.
'Even if he does not on the scoresheet he does something.'
The pair traded strikes during Arsenal's dramatic 3-2 win against United at the Emirates Stadium with Rashford scoring from outside the Area to put the away side a goal up after 17 minutes with Saka scoring in the second half with an equally superb effort from outside the penalty area.
Saka was pivotal in the Gunner's 3-1 win over Ten Hag's side earlier this season, teeing up Declan Rice for their second goal that put the Gunners 2-1 up in the 96th minute before Gabriel Jesus wrapped up the game with a third.
The Arsenal winger has two goals and two assists in the Premier League so far this season, returning 15 goals and 11 assists in 48 games across all competitions last season.
Saka also starred for Arsenal at the weekend, pulling the ball back from the byline to assist Leandro Trossard and help Arsenal secure a 1-0 victory against Everton at Goodison park.