Rashford has now made 11 appearances with six starts. The 27 -year -old has three goals and created 19 chances in 607 minutes on the field.
Malen’s villa career has been more a slow burner, but his confidence will be stimulated by a good performance as a substitute capped by a goal.
There was undoubtedly an element of gaming on the work of Villa in January, but it is paying while their season goes to a potentially glorious conclusion fed by their work this month.
This is a strategy reflected in the results, the last victory of Villa, placing them at only three points behind Manchester City in fourth place in the Premier League table with eight games to do.
Before Rashford and Asensio made their debut in the league, Villa had played 24 games, winning 10, pulling seven and losing seven with a 1.54 points per game ratio.
In the League games since then, they have played six, won three, fired two and lost one to 1.83 points per game – the two players bringing crucial contributions to FA Cup and Champions League.
It remains to be seen if villa can persuade – or even want – Asensio and Rashford to extend their stays, but the short -term results crucial and bringing rich dividends.
In a January window often characterized by panic purchases and a desire to correct the errors of the summer window, Villa played it intelligent and can go to the conclusion of the season with enormous optimism and waiting.
