Work on left has helped out Martial

OLE Gunnar Solskjaer says Anthony Martial’s form is not just down to him taking on the No.9 role at United.

The Frenchman has scored 20 goals for the first time in a single season and has at least seven more games in the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League to add to his tally.

Martial, 24, became the first United player to plunder a Premier League hat-trick since Robin van Persie in April 2013 against Sheffield United last month and curled in his fourth goal in three games in the 5-2 shellacking of Bournemouth.

He asked to reclaim the No.9 shirt after Romelu Lukaku was sold in the summer, having donned the number in his first United campaign until Zlatan Ibrahimovic requested it.

Martial has played the majority of his Reds career on the left flank and Solskjaer believes that has contributed to his form this term.

“I think the team creating chances, Anthony working hard, being the No.9 in a settled position,” Solskjaer said of Martial’s

EDDIE Howe believes the arrival of Bruno Fernandes has completely transformed United as opposition in the Premier League.

The Portuguese midfielder played another impressive match as he helped mastermind the Reds’ 5-2 win over Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

Fernandes netted a superb free-kick and set up two goals as United edged the lively encounter to keep themselves well in the hunt for a top-four finish.

Howe’s side had beaten United the last time they met in the Premier League last year, but he admits improvement. “But also once in a while rotating with Marcus (Rashford) and switching positions.

“For his goal against Bournemouth, he started off on the left and curled it into the top corner.”

David de Gea was culpable for another goal when he was beaten at his near post by the Bournemouth winger Junior Stanislas, having failed to keep out Tottenham winger Steven Bergwijn’s strike last month.

The keeper has made three errors that have led to goals this term, according to the Premier League, but Dean Henderson extended his loan with Sheffield United until the end of the season and Sergio Romero was cumbersome in his attempt to save Todd Cantwell’s equaliser in the FA Cup quarter-final.

De Gea retains Solskjaer’s support, despite more dubious goalkeeping.

He said: “That was a very good finish by the boy (Stanislas). Of course we could have dealt with it earlier and better, but David’s working hard and I’ve no worries about him.” the January arrival of Fernandes has totally transformed United as opponents.

“The Greenwood goal was a killer, the free-kick was a killer,” Howe said. “They are hammer blows to us in our state at the moment.

“Manchester United are a totally different team to the one we played earlier this season. They are very creative in midfield with Fernandes there now and they are difficult to stop.

“I thought we would come back from lockdown with a stronger squad, less injuries but it has gone the other way. We have found it difficult to play with any bite.”