Ole: My strikers are Marvellous together!

LEADER McTOMINAY ‘A MAN UNITED BOY’ SAYS REDS BOSS

OLE Gunnar Solskjaer believes Anthony Martial’s return is behind Marcus Rashford’s fine form for United.

Rashford was dropped for England’s European qualifier in the Czech Republic last month but recalled three days later in Bulgaria and scored in a 6-0 win marred by the racist behaviour by certain Bulgaria fans.

The 22-year-old returned to the United line-up with a goal against Liverpool a fortnight ago and has since netted in the 3-1 win at Norwich and scored twice in the midweek Carabao Cup triumph at Chelsea.

Rashford is on a run of four goals in three starts and has seven overall for United this term.

Martial came back from an eight-week lay-off with a hamstring injury last month and was instrumental in the virtuoso dismantling of Norwich at Carrow Road last week.

“I think since Anthony’s come back Marcus has flourished as well, blossomed,” Solskjaer said ahead of today’s trip to Bournemouth.

“He is probably happier facing goal, being direct and driving at people, taking players on, instead of being a target man with his back to goal.

“But Marcus wants to master all the skills in the end, he’s only just turned 22, I’m sure we’ll see him up front as a number nine, maybe as a two with Anthony, maybe as a three like we did against Norwich or wide like we did against Chelsea – there are different ways of playing with Marcus.

“And it was important for me he stepped up and took that penalty against Chelsea.”

He’s been excellent, and him and Fred work in a good relationship Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Scott McTominay

OLE Gunnar Solskjaer says Scott McTominay is developing into a ‘very good midfielder’ at United.

The Scot, 22, has started all 10 of the Reds’ Premier League games this season and established himself as a first-teamer towards the end of last term.

The Scotland international has scored twice in the league against Arsenal and Norwich this term but particularly excelled in recent games against ‘top six’ sides Liverpool and Chelsea.

McTominay has also rekindled his promising partnership with £52m signing Fred, who started alongside him against Liverpool, Norwich and Chelsea last month.

“He’s been excellent,” Solskjaer said.

“And him and Fred work in a good relationship.

“They’ve played well together, they did that last season at PSG, there were a few games there when we had a few injuries and now they’re working as a pair.

“But Scotty’s a leader, a Man United boy, he’s come through the ranks, and you can see he’s been a striker with the goal he scored at

Norwich on the half-turn. But he’s developing into a very good midfielder.”

United travel to Bournemouth today following three successive away wins, while Eddie Howe’s side have won just once at home this season and are winless in five.

Solskjaer has downplayed Bournemouth’s form and still expects a testing encounter.

He said: “Fine margins decide football games at this level, decisions by the referee or a decision by a player at a certain moment, you turn down a pass, you turn down a finish.

“It’s so much easier getting confidence or momentum by results and the boys look like they’re playing on instinct at the moment rather than having that extra split-second to think.

“It’s going to be a tough game, they’ve got quick forwards running in behind, direct, Josh King, Callum

Wilson, [Dominic] Solanke, [Ryan] Fraser, [Harry] Wilson, it’s quite surprising they haven’t scored but that’s probably fine margins as well. “And they have not conceded lots of goals, hopefully we score the first goal because they’re also very dangerous on set-plays.” United’s run of three away wins have come after 11 matches without a win away from Old Trafford. “That’s football, sometimes you get the luck of the dice, sometimes you don’t,” Solskjaer added.

“The game on Wednesday night (at Chelsea in the Carabao Cup) was decided by an unbelievable strike by Marcus, obviously.

“In Belgrade we defended really well, some great last-ditch defending there and Norwich was a good game.

“So the confidence is getting better, getting players back from injury helps, so all put together, in football it’s not every far from failure to success, or the other way round.