JUST 24 hours after scoring a debut hat-trick for England Under-21s Marcus Rashford was in the stands at Bacup Borough’s West View Stadium to cheer on two of his childhood friends.

Rashford, who will be in Jose Mourinho’s squad for Saturday’s Manchester derby, visited to watch pals Ashley Leather and Kyle Hendley, who the striker grew up with in Wythenshawe, play for Bacup.

The Manchester United hitman posed for selfies with fans during the Hallmark Security League division one clash with Charnock Richard which Bacup lost 4-1.

And Borough boss Brent Peters, who knew Rashford was attending, admitted it was great for the club’s supporters to mingle with a football superstar.

“Credit to Marcus he was fantastic with everyone,” said Peters.

“It was great for the people of Bacup, especially the youngsters, to be able to see him at a game because most of them won’t have been to Old Trafford or watched him play.

“He is friends with two of our lads and he came straight from training with United.

“It was nice that the supporters had that highlight considering the result.

“It was just a shame we couldn’t bring him on in the second half!”

And Peters, whose side travel to Sandbach United on Saturday, added that Rashford’s influence may have rubbed off on forward Anthony Hall who scored Bacup’s goal last night.

“Young Anthony Hall is probably the same age as Marcus and he scored a very Marcus Rashford goal,” Peters added. “He cut with quick feet and went past a couple of defenders and produced a really good finish.”

Rashford is not the only Premier League link to Bacup with the side captained last night by Kelvin Trippier, brother of Tottenham’s former Burnley defender Kieran.