Unai Emery relishing 'huge challenge' with Marcus Rashford at Aston Villa

Rashford made the most high-profile move of the transfer window when he joined on loan from Manchester United for the rest of the season and Emery is determined to unlock his big potential.

The England international had not played for United since December 12 having fallen out of favour with Ruben Amorim, who was critical of the striker’s performance in training.

Emery described Rashford’s training this week as having been “fantastic” and he is expected to feature in Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round tie with Tottenham.

Villa have a £40million option to buy in the summer but Emery is focused only on the present.

“Today he trained fantastic, tomorrow again, Sunday match, we will enjoy each step and then the future is only building with the present,” he said. 

“If we try and get the future before building the present it's impossible, if we do it we’ll crash.”

Emery has told Rashford, who has ambitions of getting back in the England squad under Thomas Tuchel, to focus only on football.

“I’m very happy with him,” said Emery. “The conversation I had with him was a very normal conversation with a player and coach, speaking about football. I only want the best football from him. 

“As a person as well into the dressing room like one more player helping us. I think his potential has huge potential to exploit. 

“I don’t want to know the reason he is leaving Manchester but I am very happy keeping him here and I am very happy to try to exploit and help him recover his performances, individually and collectively. 

“My challenge with him is a huge challenge. His challenge with us is exciting.”