José Mourinho is pleased with Marcus Rashford’s progress this season in the face of what Manchester United’s manager has described as unrealistic expectations.

The 20-year-old has scored 11 times in 40 appearances, equalling last term’s goals total, which came in 52 games. He seems certain to continue to improve his season-by-season tally, after eight in 18 appearances in his debut campaign of 2015-16.

Mourinho had previously stated that this season would feature a step-change in performance from Rashford following what can often be a challenging second season in the first team.

Asked about this, Mourinho said: “At his age, what he’s doing is more than enough and the experience he’s getting at every level is more than enough for us to be happy with what we think is going to be his future. It’s as simple as that. But because he had such an impact at the beginning, probably people expect him to play even more than he does, and score even more than he does and perform even more than what he does but it is not so simple.

“What I see makes me really happy, to see the same boy. Marcus is a fantastic boy, very grounded. For sure, we love him and we believe in him, and he’s going to have the chances.”

Mourinho, speaking before Monday’s game at Crystal Palace, said he had not offered Rashford any assurances regarding his status. “No, I don’t reassure anyone. The main reassurance is that he is always selected. There is not one single match when Marcus is not selected to start or to be on the bench.”

Mourinho has repeatedly said he will not buy a forward in the summer. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic expected to leave, Rashford may be offered more game time as a stand-in to Romelu Lukaku at centre-forward.

“The good thing with Marcus is that he can play in the three attacking positions, so even when he doesn’t start, to have him on the bench is such a security for me and for the team,” Mourinho said.

Mourinho believes Rashford’s prospects of selection by England for Russia 2018 will be unaffected by not being a regular, the forward having started only 13 of 28 Premier League games for United. “It’s up to Gareth Southgate. If he trusts him, he selects him. It doesn’t matter if he plays or if he doesn’t play for Manchester United.”