The French forward is doing what he can with the chances he is getting.
Eight of Anthony Martial’s 13 Manchester United appearances this season have been off the bench. He is doing all he can get into that United team.
Before Manchester United’s 12:30pm kick-off against Tottenham, Sky Sports treated us to a feature interview between Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“I’m going to walk out on my own terms,” bragged the Swede, “I may even walk on water.”
Back in August, Ibrahimovic was linked with a return from his knee injury against Spurs at Old Trafford. That return did not happen today but one would imagine he would expect to get back into that starting XI when he was up to full, outrageously fit, 36-year-old speed.
When Ibrahimovic picked up his knee injury, back in April, his goals were keeping United afloat. He will make his comeback to a team that now has three top forwards, who are all making big contributions.
Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford have been superb this season but the sleeper success is a man who had been linked with a summer switch to Inter Milan. Martial had a tough time of it under Jose Mourinho, last season, but the United boss held in contempt any reporter that suggested his days at the club could be numbered.
The reaction of Mourinho and Martial’s United teammates when he scored his side’s fourth goal in the early season win over West Ham showed how popular he is within the group. His talented is undoubted but he appears to be the type of player that purrs when his ear is rubbed.
Mourinho has been quick to praise the 21-year-old while only giving him the occasional start. Martial has put his head down and is truly contributing to United’s cause.
He may want to be starting but he is making a real impact off the bench. In his eight substitute appearances – including his goal in the 1-0 win over Spurs – he has now scored five goals and chipped in with two assists.
“The manager told me to find the space and I know Lukaku is good with his head. So, I found the space and I scored,” Martial told Sky Sports after the game.
“I want to play. I don’t want to be on the bench. We have some good players though. But the manager gave me a chance and I scored, so… “
In contrast, his five starts have brought a single goal and two more assists.
Still, he is worth a run in the starting line-up. He could definitely do a better job than Henrikh Mkhitaryan has managed in recent weeks.
Rashford-Lukaku-Martial all together in one United team? Benfica are up next so they may have to live with the consequences of Martial’s latest contribution.
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