Writing in his Team of the Week column for BBC Sport, Garth Crooks has hailed Manchester United star Anthony Martial after his performance against Burnley.
What did he say?
The France international’s campaign has been disrupted by injuries, with the forward missing some crucial matches during the mid-way point of the season thanks to a hamstring injury.
But having fully recovered from it, the 24-year-old has set about trying to prove his worth as the club’s out-and-out number nine, and he has picked up some valuable goals in the month of December in particular. The former AS Monaco man scored in the triumph over noisy neighbours Manchester City, struck a brace against Newcastle, and rounded off 2019 with the opening goal against Burnley on Saturday.
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And having seen how Martial has fared over the festive period, Crooks has admitted the Frenchman has helped to prove him wrong. He said: “I think I saw Anthony Martial smile over the Christmas period. This lad only seems happy when he’s scoring goals. Against Newcastle he bagged two and his second was gorgeous. I was beginning to have my doubts that Martial was the right man to lead the line for Manchester United.
“However, I must admit the France international has handled both United’s festive fixtures with a certain authority. Watching the way he collected the ball from Andreas Pereira and slotted the pass into the Burnley net with such confidence, I may have to review my position.”
Leading the line
With Marcus Rashford still banging in the goals from the left-hand side (he has 16 already), that has somewhat eased the pressure and burden on Martial needing to find the back of the net week-in and week-out. The Frenchman’s ice-cold finishing, as shown by his nerveless strike against the Clarets at Turf Moor on Saturday, is vital to United being a clinical force.
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If he can stave off further niggling injuries this campaign, then the £54m-rated star will back himself to add a lot more than the ten goals he has managed thus far. He has the number nine shirt, and he is playing in that position too. The last few weeks have shown he is beginning to vindicate that faith.
Meanwhile, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has raved about this Manchester United starlet after his performance against Burnley.
