'The lights are on but no-one's home': Roy Keane insists Marcus Rashford looked 'lost' in recent performances and claims there is something missing in Man United's culture

Roy Keane has insisted there is something amiss with Manchester United star Marcus Rashford as he claimed there was something wrong with the culture at Old Trafford. 

United only secured a point against Aston Villa on Saturday after Bruno Fernandes handed his side a two-goal lead but they squandered it with Steven Gerrard’s team netting twice in the closing stages.

Rashford missed the trip to Villa Park due to a dead leg but had featured in the FA Cup third round win – also over Villa – earlier last week. 

Roy Keane (left) insists there is something amiss with Man United star Marcus Rashford (right)

However, Keane believes that the England international has looked lost in his recent performances and insisted that the club’s senior players need to support the young forward. 

‘He’s done amazing things over the last few years, amazing, on and off the pitch, but clearly there’s something amiss,’ the ex-Republic of Ireland international told Sky Sports after Saturday’s game.

‘I looked at him Monday night [and thought], “The lights are on but no-one’s home”. The kid looks lost. There’s something amiss.

The ex-United captain believes Rashford has looked lost in his recent performances

‘Sometimes with young players it’s confidence, it might be anything to do on the football pitch, it might be stuff off the field.

‘The club have got to help him, the senior players have got to help young players.

‘There’s plenty amiss at Man United at the moment that needs to be fixed.’

During a candid interview with Premier League Productions ahead of the match, Cristiano Ronaldo – who also missed out through injury – hinted that he was frustrated with the failure of United’s young players to take on advice. 

 ‘The mature, older players can always help the young players, but, I can give you an example: if I give you advice, even if you are younger than me and if you don’t implant that in a daily life it will be difficult,’ the five-time Ballon d’Or said.

Cristiano Ronaldo (second right) insisted that the club’s young players need to take advice

‘I remember when I was 18, 19, 20, some older players speak with me and I put that as, “Cristiano, you know you have to improve. They know more than you, they are more experienced than you.” They passed through many bad moments.

‘This new generation, they don’t accept that if you criticise them. I don’t say this in relation to our players but in general. I have kids, I know. Sometimes when you’re a little bit harder, they do the opposite, you have to find the right balance to speak with them.

The Portugal international hinted that he is frustrated with the young Red Devils’ failure to take on criticism

‘But in my opinion, the main point is it should come from inside you. You should be proud of yourself, look in the mirror and say: “Listen, I gave everything. And I think all of us should do that. Because it’s a new year, we change the page, we have many things to win, we have to believe on that, if not it will be a nightmare.”

‘The individual is the most important thing. We are here to help when they need my help, my support, my advice, I will be the number one to help but if you don’t want my help, do your job, look for yourself and do your best to help the team.’

Former United captain Keane referred to Ronaldo’s comments and suggested there was something ‘missing’ in the ‘culture’ of the club.

‘I don’t think any player should have a problem if Ronaldo is making points, obviously, you can tell them face-to-face but sometimes you have to do it through the media,’ Keane said.

‘But you’d hope these young players are looking at Ronaldo and some of the senior players. The word I would use at any club, particularly the big clubs is, “What’s the culture?”, “What’s it like at the training ground?”.

‘Are these young players, [Jadon] Sancho, Rashford and [Mason] Greenwood, are they still looking at some of the senior players? You’re hoping the senior players are setting a good example. 

Keane believes that the likes of Rashford, Jadon Sancho (right) and Mason Greenwood need to look to the senior players

‘Maybe all of them aren’t and maybe some of these young players aren’t so quick to do a little bit extra afterwards, and these are all the fine details you have to improve on.

‘If the culture isn’t right at Manchester United, in terms of the pace of training, the tempo, people’s attitudes, the way they speak to the staff, if that’s not right, you’re going to notice it. 

‘To me, there’s something missing at Manchester United, there’s too many loose ends.

‘We’re on about Sancho, what’s happened to Rashford? Man United have to get to the bottom of it, that’s part of the responsibility when you’re working with good, young players.’