According to the latest report from The Guardian, Ten Hag's future at Manchester United could depend on his ability to activate Marcus Rashford.
Rashford is reportedly in a very similar form to what he was before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's departure, scoring 30 goals in 56 games in all competitions last season and netting just two in 22 games this season.
Marcus Rashford was criticised for failing to thank the away fans after last week's 2-0 defeat to West Ham, with Ten Hag saying after the game: "I'm not sure if that happened. ”
However, the team's recent fortunes seem to have been inextricably linked to Marcus Rashford's form in front of goal, with United failing to score in four consecutive games for the first time since November 1992.
The Dutchman must find a way to get the best out of Rashford, who hasn't started in the Premier League since losing to Newcastle in early December.
He signed a new long-term contract in the summer and reportedly reached a weekly salary of 31£50,000 but only scored two goals for the club, Ten Hag said: "I'm sure he'll score and he'll prove his starting position. ”
Their relationship has come under increasing scrutiny this season as results have slipped, with Ten Hag calling Rashford's decision to host a birthday party hours after the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City "unacceptable".
Marcus Rashford has previously said he admires Ten Hag's 'high standards', having been sent off the bench for being late for a team meeting against Wolves on New Year's Eve last year.
The decision paid dividends for both sides, with Marcus Rashford coming off the bench to score the winner but failing to do so again this season and still looking lacking in confidence.
Marcus Rashford is 9 this seasonThe 5 per cent conversion rate is less than half of last season's, but more worrying is the number of shots he has taken, with 38 attempts in 17 Premier League games, compared to 108 in 35 games last season.
Rashford's decline is similar to his 2021/22 season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, when he missed the start of the season with a shoulder injury and scored just four league goals.
He later admitted that "a lot of times I wasn't in the right game" and praised Ten Hag for motivating him by "giving him a different energy for the club and at the training ground", and now, time will tell if that will happen again.