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Jose Mourinho has reassured Marcus Rashford he has a key role in one of the world’s most exciting attacking line-ups.

Despite playing a part in every one of Manchester United’s 36 game this season, the England striker has started just one of their last six Premier League matches.

But Mourinho, who mocked himself as “The monster that kills the little kids” in a nod to his reputation as a coach who does not give youth a chance, said the 20-year-old remains an important player, despite last week's arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal.

“Marcus’ story is quite interesting because he started playing with Mr Van Gaal, when the team was really in trouble, to have options,” said Mourinho.

(Image: Action Images via Reuters)

“Then ‘The monster that kills the little kids’ arrived, but he plays every game since then. He plays every game, starting or coming from the bench, as a striker, as a left winger, as a right winger. Then he goes to the national team.

“The kid is having a hell of an experience at every level, so an amazing future waits for him and being surrounded by these players can only help him. But the whole story of Marcus — will he get minutes and matches? — that story is really old, because he’s a very important player for us.”

With Sanchez joining Rashford, Romelu Lukaku, Juan Mata, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard, Mourinho said United now boast one of the most formidable attacks in the game.

(Image: Man Utd via Getty Images)

“In attack, it’s difficult for us to improve,” he said. “Where are we going to get a better combination of players than we have? We cannot buy Lionel Messi, we cannot buy Cristiano Ronaldo – these are the best players of the last decade.

“Where can we get better players than Mata, Martial, Lingard, Rashford, Alexis, Lukaku? In attack, we have an amazing group of players.”

Mourinho said Sanchez, who will make his Premier League debut for United on Wednesday away to old foes Tottenham, will not be fazed by the abuse he will receive as a former Arsenal player.

“He doesn’t care,” said the United boss.

“He’s probably going to get that kind of reception everywhere. It doesn’t matter about the previous rivalry between Spurs and Arsenal. He will get a bit of that everywhere.

“I don’t know if it’s true or not, but that story of being on one of the top salaries in Premier League football, to change a big club for another big club, this kind of situation attracts a little bit of it, but I don’t think he cares.

“He’s the kind of player, with all his experience, he’s used to it. It’s not easy for Chile to play in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, so these guys grow up with a certain level of experiences. I don’t think it’s a problem for him at all.”