Will the real Anthony Martial please stand up?

STRIKER MUST PROVE HE CAN DELIVER FOR UNITED

THOSE who have worked with Anthony Martial have no doubt the France striker has a special talent.

But after five-and-a-half seasons with Manchester United, the question still hangs in the air whether his main skill remains the ability to split opinion down the middle.

Even his harshest critics could not claim that two goals and a penalty assist in a 45-minute cameo during the 9-0 demolition of Southampton was not a decent night’s work for any striker.

Yet, after 249 appearances in a red shirt, the suggestion this could be a catalyst for him to ‘kick on’ says much about the false dawns and frustrations that have dogged his career.

Being the most expensive teenager in world football when he signed for £54million, aged 19 from Monaco in 2015, has seemingly weighed heavily on Martial’s shoulders. His skills with the ball at his feet have never been in doubt. And his finishing is good without being top class.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brackets him behind both Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood in training in that regard. But his work rate frequently lands him in bother with the performance metrics, particularly when United have not got the ball.

Indeed, he was dropped from the starting line-up on Tuesday after a desperate display in the 2-1 home defeat by Sheffield United. Martial’s 78 goals in all competitions averages at a goal every third game.

But the average barren spell between goals is 4.38 games, which illustrates a performer susceptible to hot and cold spells.

Martial’s relationship with previous United manager Jose Mourinho soured after he left a pre-season tour in 2018 without permission, prompting Mourinho to tell United’s hierarchy he would let him go.

Solskjaer’s arm around the shoulder is a contrasting style and if anyone is going to get the best out of him, it could be the Norwegian.

Martial enjoyed his best season last term with 23 goals in 48 appearances.

But he is back at a crossroads in his United career and the challenge is to show the same fight and professionalism as Cavani, and the finishing prowess as Greenwood.

What is pretty clear is that the time for him to still have untapped potential has gone.