Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has backed Marcus Rashford to challenge Wayne Rooney's record goal haul for Manchester United - if he stays at Old Trafford for life.

Rashford's clinical 94th-minute penalty that sealed United's epic 3-1 Champions League win away to Paris St Germain on Wednesday was his 43rd for the Reds from 159 appearances.

Still only 21, United caretaker boss Solskjaer reckons Rashford has a chance of getting close to Rooney's record total of 253 - but has told the England striker he needs to improve his finishing and score more goals in training.

Asked if Rashford could challenge Rooney's total, Solskajer said: "That would be fantastic. We know all the quality legends that we have had at this club who have stayed so long.

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"They’ve been one club players and we hope Rashy is going to be one of them.

"It’s up to both him and us of course. If he keeps producing, he will stay in the team. That’s up to him - to stay in the team."

Solskjaer has been in charge of United for nearly three months, during which time Rashford has taken his game on, although his boss said he expects an improved goal output from him.

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"You don’t really see too much of a change in a player in three months, but he’s 21," said Solskjaer.

"You’re excused if sometimes you really hit the highs and sometimes you’re a little bit off the pace.

"To be fair to Rashy, you don’t expect the consistency yet in all the play, but he’s always got the quality. His finishing, his striking of the ball, his attitude, that's always going to be with him.

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"I keep battering him that he should score as many goals as Rom [Romelu Lukaku] after the training session has finished.

"He should always get those simple tap-ins, finishes from close range, like Rom scored in the last few games.

"Rashy’s goals are sometimes worldies and he does have a sensational strike of the ball, but you see the improvement and maturity and change in Cristiano’s goals from when he was young to now.

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"He [Ronaldo] scores more from inside the box and that’s what Rashy has to do - improve his tap-ins, movement in the box, staying in the box, getting away from the centre-backs a few more times.

"You can get those extra five or 10 goals from staying in the box, and he’s been told that."