MARTIAL’S CHANCE TO STEP UP
£36M striker can salvage Reds career with Lukaku and Rashford absent
ANTHONY MARTIAL will be given a final chance to save his ailing career at Manchester United.
He endured a tough third season at the Reds last term and looked set to leave this summer, with Juventus and Tottenham interested.
But with Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford on extended breaks following their World Cup exploits, the versatile forward will be given the opportunity to shine.
A £36million signing from Monaco on transfer deadline day in September 2015, he will lead the attack against Leicester in the Premier League opener on August 10.
Martial was left out of France’s World Cupwinning squad because of a lack of game-time at United.
He has been given a reprieve by boss Jose Mourinho, who is understood to have told him it is now or never.
With Cristiano Ronaldo joining Juventus, the Serie A side have ended any interest in Martial, while Tottenham’s efforts look to have been fruitless.
With so many personnel unavailable for the start of the campaign, Mourinho has little option but to turn to Martial.
The 22-year-old made an explosive start at United, scoring against Liverpool on his debut on the way to plundering 17 goals.
Problems on and off the pitch made it a difficult second season for him, with just eight goals to his name.
And he did not fare much better last term, managing only 11. The arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal in January saw Martial pushed further out of the picture and Mourinho publicly questioned his focus and commitment, challenging him to improve both.
Martial’s lack of firstteam action under Mourinho in the second half of last season cost him a World Cup place.
He was known to be unhappy with his boss and his agent had been pursuing the possibility of a move.
But in the absence of some of United’s key players, Martial has the chance to step up and impress his manager at Old Trafford.