Marcus Rashford could have joined Manchester City at the age of nine but was lured to join United by Rene Meulensteen

As Louis van Gaal celebrates the impact of Manchester United's newest goalscoring hero Marcus Rashford, he owes a debt of gratitude to fellow Dutchman Rene Meulensteen whose influence persuaded the striker to choose United over rivals Manchester City at the age of nine.

The schoolboy striker was courted by both clubs and trained with each of them until he made his big decision to join United. How grateful they must feel now after his sensational debut against Midtjylland at the age of 18.

According to David Horrocks, his first coach at renowned south Manchester junior club Fletcher Moss Rangers, the deciding factor was United's training programme introduced by youth coach Meulensteen – later to be Sir Alex Ferguson's No 2 - based on the famed Coerver methods in which mastery of the ball is paramount.

Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring for Manchester United on his debut on Thursday night at Old Trafford

The schoolboy striker was courted by both Manchester United and City before his move to Old Trafford

Rashford (centre, top row) pictured as a six-year-old before going on to become a professional player

'Like most talented kids, Marcus wasn't just scouted by one club. He went to the Moss Side development centre at United and City knew he was going well so he also trained at their academy at Platt Lane which was close to his home in Fallowfield,' recalled Horrocks.

'City offered him a chance to play for the club and said they'd build their team around him. United were worried about losing out because City was so convenient geographically. So they called me to see if I could drive him into their training ground at The Cliff on a Sunday morning.'

It didn't take long for Rashford's thought processes to turn red.

'United had a programme to develop individual skills. The ethos was laid down by Meulensteen and all the coaches followed it. It suited Marcus down to the ground because he was allowed to have the ball and express himself rather than just pass-pass-pass,' added Horrocks.

'Boys can't sign a piece of paper with any club until their ninth birthday. It was around that time Marcus decided he wanted to go to United. In his words as I drove him to The Cliff, he could see himself being a better footballer under their programme.'

Rashford's talent had been obvious even earlier, from the moment he walked into Fletcher Moss aged five to join his older brother Dwain who already played there.

Rashford of Manchester United pictured during their Europa League round-of-32 tie on Thursday

Rashford introduced himself with two goals for Manchester United against Midtjylland

Rashford is mobbed by Manchester United supporters after scoring one of his two goals on a fine night

Manchester United's team celebrate one of Rashford's goals against Midtjylland on Thursday

Fletcher Moss are used to seeing talented boys and started the careers of Wes Brown, Danny Welbeck, Cameron Stewart, Ravel Morrison, Kyle Bartley and many others but Rashford – who celebrated his United debut at the age of 18 with two goals in Thursday night's crucial Europa League victory against FC Midtjylland - still stood out.

By the age of seven, both United and City were strongly interested. He'd alternate sessions with United at their Moss Side development centre and City at Platt Lane. His home in Fallowfield was close to City's HQ, his mum having moved there from a troubled estate in another south Manchester area of Withington.

The comparisons with Welbeck are obvious as both spent the first four years of their careers at Fletcher Moss.

Welbeck was sold by United to Arsenal for £16million and is an established England international but Horrocks believes Rashford could go on to become even better.

'Marcus has far more pace than Danny ever had. Danny would wait for the ball to come to him, Marcus is hungry for it. He has the same mentality to training that Eric Cantona and David Beckham had,' he says.

Rashford uploaded this photograph to Instagram on Friday morning of himself and Joe Riley after their debuts

Rashford pictured playing for Manchester United's Under-18 side against Hull City in the FA Youth Cup

Rashford, the 18-year-old starlet for Manchester United, has drawn comparisons with Danny Welbeck

Welbeck, in action for Arsenal against Barcelona on Tuesday, played for the same junior club as Rashford

'Personally, I see him as a centre forward. He has a tremendous pair of shoulders and is built like an athlete. He is so resilient, he can bounce up.

'He got cracked in the face on Thursday night, he wasn't bothered, just bounced right back up. We are proud of what Danny has achieved but I think Marcus will go on and do even better.

'I doubt very much he would have slept last night. He will be on cloud nine.'

Rashford moved to Northenden in north Manchester with his Mum and Horrocks still sees him when he takes the latest batch of talented Fletcher Moss under-sevens to United's new training ground at Carrington.

The Fletcher Moss Facebook page has been inundated by congratulatory messages to Rashford after his two goals against the Danish champions, all the more remarkable because he'd only just broken into the club's under-21 team.

'I was out of my chair when Marcus scored his goals, my wife was the same,' said Horrocks.

Ironically, Manchester City have a young player called Ashley Smith-Brown in their under-21 team who was Rashford's team-mate for Fletcher Moss under-sevens. 

Van Gaal will be delighted the schoolboy Marcus opted for United.

It didn't take long for young talent Rashford to choose the red of United over the blue of City in Manchester 

Fletcher Moss are used to seeing talented boys and Rashford became the latest to join the big stage