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United to announce Sanchez signing as he has his medical Pep sets sights on FOUR new faces to join the Blues
TURF Moor’s press box was packed. There was even a seating map. And while United often have that effect, you suspect there were a few journalists present who were disappointed Alexis Sanchez was not making his debut against Burnley in the Lancashire chill.
More than 230 miles away at the Emirates, there was no sign of the Chilean either as Arsenal romped to a 4-0 lead inside 22 remarkable minutes against Crystal Palace.
Alexis No.7 shirts are still on the rails at the Gunners’ megastore, but it is only a matter of time before they are in the bargain bin. And an away day at Burnley was the kind of game made for a fighter like Sanchez.
The 29-year-old has converted dramatic injurytime penalties in this very stadium in the last two seasons and has scored four goals in his last five games against Burnley.
It could have been a fairytale debut, but the Chilean will have to wait. The creaking Huish Park looks set to be his unlikely baptism with the eyes of the world on United’s prospective new No.7 against Yeovil Town in the FA Cup on Friday. In his absence, the Reds lacked intensity at times against tough-tackling Burnley. Jose Mourinho will have known he was in for a fight after intently watching an intense round of pressing drills by the Clarets’ hungry squad in the warm-up. But United did not have a single shot on target in the first half. The onus was on Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata to continue to produce as speculation continues about where Sanchez could slot in. His favoured left-hand side, the No.10 role or on the right wing where he made his breakthrough at Udinese? Martial soon gave an answer. The Frenchman and Lingard, in particular, felt the full force of Burnley’s Rottweilers. Lingard even took one almighty clattering from former City youngster Ben Mee. At one stage, Martial was sent flying over the advertising hoardings, which provoked the biggest cheer of the afternoon from the boisterous home fans.
But Martial did not give up – and soon got his reward when United finally made a breakaway count against a stubborn Clarets defence before the hour mark.
Leading a blistering counter, Romelu Lukaku, off balance, unleashed a brilliant assist on the floor and Martial did the rest inside the box with a now trademark cool finish.
Mourinho used to rotate his leftwingers on a game-by-game basis but, tellingly, he has plumped for the red-hot Martial for much of 2018 as Marcus Rashford watches on from the bench.
Expect that to continue – even when Sanchez signs.
At one stage Martial was sent flying over the advertising hoardings, which provoked the biggest cheer Ciaran Kelly