MANCHESTER -- Juan Mata has said he believes "special" Marcus Rashford has developed a consistency that separates him from the rest of the world's top young players.

Rashford created goals for Mata and Marouane Fellaini in the 4-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday.

It took the 19-year-old's tally of Premier League assists to three, adding to the five goals he has scored in all competitions so far this season.

Rashford has been named on a 25-man shortlist for the Golden Boy award, given to the best young player in Europe, with other nominees including Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele.

And Mata said: "I think he has been brilliant. I think he is a special kid. He has a lot of talents and he has got a good mentality which is important at that age.

"He is performing very well, week in week out -- even coming from the bench he is helping a lot.

"I really believe he is going to be a big player for club and country. I see so many players at that age and they don't keep consistency, but I believe he can because he has the right mentality for that."

Marcus Rashford has been scoring and creating for Manchester United. Alex Livesey/Getty Images

United coach Jose Mourinho has alternated between Rashford and Anthony Martial on the left wing this season and also has Mata, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard competing for a place supporting striker Romelu Lukaku.

And Mata believes that competition has helped United start the season with 21 goals in seven Premier League games.

He added: "I think we have 10 players that have scored this season already. That's a lot and speaks very well of the team, and that is the big reason for the good start.

"Anthony, Marcus, Jesse when he comes in the team is playing very good, Mkhitaryan is playing well and is doing great things. I think everyone is doing their bit, and I believe that the manager is happy with that."

United welcomed back Fellaini, Antonio Valencia and Phil Jones against Palace after they missed the 4-1 Champions League win over CSKA Moscow in midweek.

But even with Paul Pogba and Michael Carrick still sidelined, Mourinho had the luxury of omitting Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw from his 18-man squad against the Londoners.

Mata said: "We have a good squad and some good players this season, players with a lot of experience.

"The manager has a lot of players to choose from. We had a lot of games this month so he changed a lot, but everyone is performing. As a manager, he cannot ask for more."

The form of Romelu Lukaku since his arrival from Everton has impressed teammate Juan Mata. PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images

United head into the international break level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table and face fierce rivals Liverpool at Anfield on their return to league action.

Mata said: "We need to try to focus on each game and not think further ahead. We are happy with the start of the season.

"We know we have had a good start, but the manager is telling us all the time, and we know it, that it's just the beginning and we need to keep calm."

And the Spaniard also called in new arrival Lukaku for praise, after his barnstorming start to the season following his arrival from Everton in the summer, saying the Belgium international has exceeded his expectations.

"It's a lot of goals, especially when you come to a new environment,'' the Spaniard said. "I knew he would score a lot but I didn't know he would do it so quick, that's true.

"He gives a lot more to the team too but for a striker it's important to score, especially when you see other strikers are scoring and I believe that is what he feels and he has started really well.

"He has been a key part to our good start to the season and he's a good lad, a very humble lad and everyone likes him in the dressing room so we are happy for him.''

Asked how he compares now to their time at Chelsea, Mata said: "I don't know how many goals he has been scoring during his career, but when he was at Anderlecht he was already scoring 20 or 30 per season.

"He just needed confidence and I think he got it in Everton and became a more experienced and better player.

"It's not easy to come to United and reach expectations but he is doing more than people expected and that is great for us.''