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Anthony Martial put in yet another superb performance in Manchester United’s convincing 4-1 Champions League victory away to CSKA Moscow on Wednesday.
The talented-attacker has been used sparingly by United boss Jose Mourinho so far this season, but after contributing a goal and two assists in the Arena CSKA he must surely be in line for a starting berth in The Reds next Premier League fixture, at home to struggling Crystal Palace this Saturday.
Martial has now scored five times and provided three assists in just 263 minutes of football so far this term – less than three full games – statistics that are quite simply ridiculous.
Many eyebrows were raised when United paid AS Monaco £36 million for the then 19 year-old in September 2015. Martial would make a instant impact however, scoring a wonderful individual goal on his debut against the Old Trafford clubs arch-rivals Liverpool.
The France international would go on to have a stellar first season for United; he was the club’s top-scorer netting 17 goals and was easily The Reds most potent attacking threat from his position on the left-wing. Martial’s displays of pace, trickery and ice-cold finishing resulted in him becoming a firm favourite with the Old Trafford faithful.
However, after Louis Van Gaal’s departure in the summer of 2016 and the appointment of Jose Mourinho, many fans feared for the ex-Monaco youngster’s future at the club – mostly due to reports of his new manager’s dislike for out and out wingers who weren’t prepared to put in the necessary shift defensively.
Martial was in and out of his side’s starting XI throughout last season. He contributed just five goals in 35 appearances and despite occasional flashes of brilliance, he seemed to be a young man who was not enjoying his football.
Mourinho even went as far as publicly questioning the skilful wingers work-ethic and attitude in order to try and force a reaction out of the 21-year-old.
Therefore, earlier this summer when reports began to circulate that Inter Milan had requested Martial in exchange for Ivan Perisic many United fans feared the gifted youngsters Old Trafford career may be coming to a abrupt end.
That rumoured deal never did come to fruition and despite starting this season behind Marcus Rashford in the pecking order, the Frenchman’s reaction has been immense. Just as notable as his impressive statistics has been the fact that the 2015 European Golden Boy is now playing his football with a smile on his face.
Pictures released form United AON training complex show a player enjoying himself and fully immersed as part of The Reds band of young-guns; Pogba, Lukaku, Rashford and Lingaard.
The battle between Martial and Rashford for a start on the left of The Reds attack is proving a fasinacting one, it is the type of tussle that can be safely classed as one of those ‘’ good headaches ‘’ managers and pundits often refer to.
With both youngsters in sparkling form Mourinho may even be forced into starting both -with one of the pair moving to the right-side of Lukaku – to form a fearsome attacking trident.
Make no mistake, this is not a Martial back to the level of his debut season at Old Trafford, this is a hungrier and more mature player that is playing his finest ever football for the club. If early-season form is anything to go by, and United are to have a successful season this term, the supremely-talented winger will have a integral part to play.
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Ride on martial
I love martial.ride on you are fantastic