Marcus Rashford targets goal against Manchester City at Old Trafford

In eight months the 18-year-old has gone from relatively unknown academy prospect to become one of the most feted young players in world football and hero of the Stretford End.

Few could have foreseen Rashford's debut brace in February's 5-1 Europa League win against FC Midtjylland and certainly not the way that form continued, swiftly going onto represent England and net 12 goals in all for his club.

Wednesday offers the chance to improve that tally and score a dream United goal when City arrive for a fascinatingly-poised EFL Cup last-16 clash.

Asked what his dream goal would be, Rashford said: "It would be a home goal against City, definitely.

"Scoring away was a massive moment as well for me, so I can only imagine what a home goal would be like."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic knows a thing or two about scoring in derbies, but a difficult run of one goal in eight appearances has strengthened Rashford's case to lead the line against City.

The 18-year-old certainly has the attitude to do that, along with his impressive aptitude, as highlighted when scoring to secure March's 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.

"The game was quite an even one so it could have gone either way," Rashford told Inside United.

"We were attacking and then they were attacking. They had a bit more of the ball but they weren't really threatening us.

"There were two times before when I got on a one-v-one with (Martin Demichelis) and he just nicked the ball off me.

"I knew what I needed to do the next time I got the ball so I did it.

"Then I was against the keeper and it was just about relaxing, composing myself and that was what I did.

"After it went in, the fans were too far away but it was a good feeling with everyone coming towards you.

"To win the game 1-0 as well, to hold out as a team was a good feeling."

United will need a solid team display when City arrive - certainly more than Mourinho's men could muster in Sunday's 4-0 humiliation at Chelsea.

Rashford was involved at Stamford Bridge just as he was in setting up Wednesday's derby clash, with his tireless work against Northampton spooking the goalkeeper and allowing him to wrap up a 3-1 win.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Morgan Schneiderlin, Michael Carrick and Memphis Depay were among those to get rare run outs at Sixfields and are pushing for another shot on Wednesday.

Back-up goalkeeper Sergio Romero is also hoping to be involved, with the Northampton clash and Europa League win against Zorya Luhansk his only appearances of the campaign to date.

"I think that whenever you play against your biggest rivals or in a derby game, it's a massive game because there's always a lot at stake," the Argentina goalkeeper told the club website.

"There is that desire, ambition and belief that defeat is out of the question in every game, but especially in this one.

"Everyone has to be mentally focused that these games just have to be won. These are special games, the sort where even when you're carrying an injury, you still want to play. So they are games where you must play well and where you simply have to win.

"We also know that, for us, this is a period of development.

I played my first game against Northampton and so I know I'm feeling good in myself that I can perform in any match when the manager calls on me, needs me or it's my turn to play.

"For me and similarly for my team-mates, we need to keep growing and developing in the right direction so the group as a whole feels better and more solid."