When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returned the # 9 jersey to Anthony Martial in the summer of 2019, it was an important vote of confidence in the Manchester United striker.
Martial looked like he might be one of the players to leave the club towards the end of the 2018/19 season when Solskjaer targeted some of his players, particularly after a heavy loss at Everton on Easter Sunday.
It had been no secret that Martial could have stayed behind under Jose Mourinho if the Portuguese boss had had his way, and the perception was that Solskjaer was now coming to the same conclusion.
But instead of selling Martial, Solskjaer promoted him. Instead, Romelu Lukaku was transferred to Inter Milan and Martial became the linchpin of a United attack based on speed and purpose.
It cannot be said that the move was unsuccessful, even if not everyone is convinced of Martial’s merits as No. 9 Manchester United.
Since the start of last season, the Frenchman has scored 25 goals for the club and formed an impressive attacking trident with Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood. The success Lukaku had in Italy, where he scored 41 goals over the same period, shouldn’t affect Martial’s work. Lukaku is a much better fit with Antonio Contes Inter than ever before with Solskjaers United.
However, United lost the competition when selling Lukaku. Rashford and Greenwood can play center-forwards, but they usually start way up in the top three and are not really considered competitors of Martial as they often start in the same attack.
Odion Ighalo came in January and his early contribution in cup games was impressive but he would never seriously challenge Martial. However, all of this could change.
Edinson Cavani is 33 years old but has not lost any of the hunger that led him to success in Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain. The Uruguayan is a natural goalscorer, more natural than martial, and although he has different traits as a striker, he will surely feel that he can compete for that place.
United went on international break by winning what was arguably the most important game of the season at Everton on Saturday.
The pressured Reds came from behind to beat the Toffees thanks to Bruno Fernandes’ doubles and Edinson Cavani’s first goal for United.
United is on a two-week hiatus with many of their stars on international service. We will keep an eye on their performance and the preparations for the next Premier League game against West Brom.
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Martial was criticized earlier this month. Paul Scholes questioned his role as a center-forward during the disappointing 2-1 loss to Istanbul Basaksehir.
“The movement from the center forward was practically non-existent,” Scholes said of BT Sport. “Anthony Martial, whenever I looked up when a midfielder had the ball, he just stood between the two center-backs and did nothing.
“I’m a big fan of Martial, but every time I looked up and he left, he has to recognize himself as a center forward – every now and then you have to move if you want to score.
“You can’t just go in front of two central defenders and do nothing.
“When a midfielder has time on the ball – I see that he is running, Rashford comes to the ball – that is not his forte. Sometimes experienced players like a Matic have to tell them. They have to train almost through a game.”
Cavani has played as a striker often enough that his movements have become a matter of course. In this area he can help Martial and Greenwood at the Carrington training grounds.
But he didn’t sign United should be an option from the bench and a mentor in training. He will still feel like he has a role in the club and Martial will have serious competition for that role.
Since Martial took back jersey No. 9, he has had a free run in the position that comes with it. This could change soon.
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