West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic believes Ashley Fletcher can turn into another Marcus Rashford.
West Ham signed Fletcher on Tuesday after the England under-20 striker's contract at Manchester United expired.
Fletcher had spent the second half of last season on loan at Barnsley, whose caretaker manager Paul Heckingbottom said the 20-year-old could have made his debut at United instead of Rashford, had circumstances favoured him.
Rashford stepped up in an injury crisis at United during February, while Fletcher was out on loan at Barnsley.
I am delighted to announce that striker Ashley Fletcher has joined the Club from Man Unt. on a 4 year contract. dg pic.twitter.com/GMx6GTJMeq
- David Gold (@davidgold) July 13, 2016
While former United manager Louis van Gaal fearlessly promoted Rashford into the starting lineup, Bilic is unlikely to do the same with Fletcher, despite the praise the Croatian has given the new signing.
Speaking to reporters on West Ham's United States tour, Bilic said: "Fletcher and [Toni] Martinez are prospects. Some of them can do what Rashford did for Man United last season, but to play a full season with them from the start would not be the option we want.
"They can emerge and surprise and amaze us and the league, like Rashford, but we are still looking to get a striker if we can, but only if he is a better striker than what we have."
