Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford insists he is determined to ignore "distractions" and continue his rise to the top.

The 19-year-old has enjoyed an incredible 14 months, graduating from the youth team to become a key member of Jose Mourinho's first-team squad and a full international.

It is just over a year since he scored on his Manchester derby debut to secure a 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.

He is expected to get a chance to repeat the trick against Manchester City on Thursday with Zlatan Ibrahimovic ruled out through injury.

And ahead of the game, Rashford has revealed his battle to stay grounded despite his meteoric rise.

He told the Manchester Evening News: "People can advise you and do what they can to try and help you but at the end of the day it is down to you.

Marcus Rashford has become a key part of the Manchester United team this season. Martin Rickett/PA Wire/PA Images

"You see it more often now with young players after they first get into the first team there are a lot of distractions all over but, especially at United, we have a lot of examples of people ignoring all that and keeping to their football.

"My group is quite closed. I don't bring new people in, maybe that is a bad thing, but I don't leave myself open to giving anyone an opportunity to tarnish me.

"I have kept it quite closed. The same lads I have been with since I was 7, 8, 9, 10 are the same friends now.

"We used to play everywhere when I was a kid. Parking lots over the road, the number of times we got told to come off the school field when school wasn't open is amazing.

"All of my friends have always loved football and still do now. If we could we'd still do all those same things now but it's a bit more difficult now."