Cape Town - Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes Marcus Rashford's form this season makes him the best English forward in the Premier League.
Despite being deployed mostly from the bench this season, behind the likes of Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the pecking order, Rashford has already scored five times for the Red Devils, three of which have come in their last three games.
"I think Marcus Rashford should be selected for the senior squad next week and be unleashed against Malta," he wrote in the Evening Standard.
"Including his hat-trick for the U21s against Norway earlier this month, no English striker has scored more goals since he made his professional debut in February.
"I don't care how old you are, that record warrants a place in the squad. He has been the best striker in this country since February in terms of output - the statistics don't lie."