da 888： When Manchester United gave the green light to let both Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez go in the summer, without signing any replacement at all, the burden of scoring goals was undoubtedly placed on the shoulders of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.
da betsson： The duo got off to the perfect start in the Red Devils’ 4-0 thrashing of Chelsea, getting on the score-sheet and looking like they were ready to kick on for the rest of the campaign. However, after providing two goals and an assist in his first three Premier League games of the season, Martial suffered an injury that kept him out for the best part of two months.
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In his absence, his strike partner Rashford suffered a major dip in form, finding the back of the net once in a run of seven games in the top-flight. Questions of why they let Lukaku go in the first place reared their ugly heads once more, and so Martial’s comeback from his lay-off against Liverpool last weekend was a most welcome sight. Fast forward a week later, and the £36m man had scored against both Partizan Belgrade and Norwich.
We asked our team of Football FanCast writers to give their verdicts on just how important the former AS Monaco man is.
Matt Dawson
“It may have taken a while but finally United’s forward line is beginning to click. With a front three of Dan James, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, it should leave a whole host of defences up and down the country frightened.
“All blessed with tremendous pace, it is perhaps Martial who is the most important of the trio. With him in the side this season they have lost just once and he’s had a devastating impact with five goals in just nine games. On that evidence, he could help save Solskjaer’s job, such is the pressure on his back. If United are to improve under the Norwegian, they need him to stay fit. He is a crucial cog in the machine and he can only get better, just like each of their forward line.The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…“With Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku departing, they needed someone to stand up and be counted. So far in 2019/20, Martial has been that man. The huge price tag put upon his shoulders when he first moved from Monaco doesn’t look as though it’s a burden anymore. 2020 could just be the year of the France international at Old Trafford.”Kealan Hughes“It was clear from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s transfer dealings in the summer than Anthony Martial would be his main man this season, and so far he has lived up to what is expected of him.“He has also shown that he can link-up effectively with Marcus Rashford with goals against Norwich and Wolves, and due to the pace and finishing ability of the pair they could be pivotal to any chances of success.“The only concern would be his injury/fitness issues, but if he does begin to feature regularly again then the goals will follow, as they have already, and that should help to solve the team’s problem in attack, with only 13 goals in ten league games.”Charles Jones“I think Anthony Martial has proven himself to be one of Manchester United’s most important players, not just through his performances when he is playing, but by how much United miss him when he isn’t.“It’s a telling stat that United have scored 56% of their goals this season with Martial and Rashford both on the pitch together despite the Frenchman suffering a long injury layoff.“If the Red Devils are to have even the slightest hint of a successful season Martial will be paramount to that, and his performances since coming back have shown that he’s one of their most important players.”Vijievan Jeevathayalan“Whilst Anthony Martial was on the side-lines, Rashford’s struggles in front of goal only seemed to make the former a much better player. So when he walked back on to the hallowed Old Trafford pitch against Liverpool, the cheer from the Manchester United faithful was almighty. There was an undoubted sense of ‘here comes our goal-scoring saviour’.“And those sentiments were arguably vindicated by the fact he scored the winner against Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League last Thursday, before helping his side score three goals against Norwich – the first time since their opening game against Chelsea that they had scored more than once in a competitive fixture.“So just as much as his footballing abilities, Martial’s return from injury has given the entire squad and fan-base a major lift in spirits, with Solskjaer himself even admitting how pleased he was to have him back. The Frenchman’s continued presence in the team can be the catalyst for the Red Devils to well and truly kick-start their campaign”.