Anthony Martial needs to get his form back on track if he wants to retain his place in Manchester United’s squad, according to one pundit.
The France forward has largely struggled for form at Old Trafford since his 2015 move from Monaco. Indeed, his best statistics came when he scored 23 goals and assisted 12 others in 2019/20.
He has broken the double-figure mark for goals in three of his five other seasons at United. However, he has not yet emerged as the standout attacking force for the club.
Pressure has also mounted on new winger signing Jadon Sancho. The England international has yet to score for the Red Devils since his £73million move from Borussia Dortmund.
According to former Manchester United attacker Dwight Yorke, Martial is the player manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must worry about.
Yorke told Goal: “When you play for this club and you’re not doing the business and your form dips for whatever reason you’re going to be under scrutiny.
“He’s got to buckle down really if he has a future at this football club.
“He’s undoubtedly got immense talent and all the attributes we like to see in an attacking player and there’s no question he can be that vital player for us but at the moment he’s not in the squad and he’s got to find a way to get back into the team.”
Yorke added that Martial needs a consistent run in the United team to show his best talents.
Still, Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival has cast doubt on whether he can achieve such a spell. The Portugal international’s role in the team dominated the headlines after he started Saturday’s draw with Everton on the bench.
Furthermore, Marcus Rashford will soon return from shoulder surgery. He will join Edinson Cavani, Sancho and Mason Greenwood in the battle for game time.
Martial needs Man Utd minutes
“He’s been a bit of a mixed bag to be fair,” Yorke added on Martial.
“He had that one season when he was outstanding and he looked a serious threat but I think he’s been unfairly treated in some way because I think that No.9 role is a specialist role and you have to play that position week in, week out, to get familiarised with it.
“When he first started off he started off on the left and then the right so he’s not really settled that much.
“He needs to be playing week in week out to really see the best of him. You can’t give him 10 or 20 minutes and expect him to be the finished article, it just doesn’t happen.”
Martial scored his first goal in eight months against Everton, but amid his struggles for form, he has had links with a move away in the January transfer window.
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