Wayne Rooney reveals key to unlocking Marcus Rashford's killer edge after latest Man Utd blank

Wayne Rooney is urging Marcus Rashford to simplify his game in order to improve his efficiency in front of goal. It comes after the Manchester United striker drew another blank in the Red Devils' FA Cup fifth round clash with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

United won the game 1-0 thanks to a late Casemiro effort, setting up a quarter-final tie with Liverpool, but Rashford missed chances to get himself on the scoresheet and make an impact. Rashford, who bagged 30 goals in all competitions last season, has hit just five this time around with his form in front of goal taking an alarming dip.

The England international did score three in as many Premier League games in the weeks following the festive period, but his last effort came on February 1 and while he was playing as a lead striker against Forest, Rooney wants to see him regain his swagger.

"I think when you play as a number nine you need the team to create chances for you and I don't think they created that many," Rooney said as part of the BBC's coverage of Wednesday night's match. "I do think he needs to be more ruthless, he needs to be a bit more patient and stay in the middle of the goal but you have to be ruthless and the chance he had on his left foot, I'm sure he'd be disappointed with that. I just want to see a little bit more.

"A number of factors and confidence is the main one when you're playing and scoring goals you feel like you're going to score in every game but when you're not scoring that many you need to get that confidence back and I think he needs to simplify his game a little bit to get back into a groove."

He added: "Marcus isn't the most vocal lad so I think for him it's difficult because sometimes his body language doesn't look great. He's not like that. I think that's where Casemiro, Varane and Bruno, that's where they have to get more out of him. Bigger personalities but maybe have a bit of go at him to get him fired up and get that reaction from him."