With Marcus Rashford out injured, Anthony Martial could have a big chance to impress Erik ten Hag on Thursday night when Manchester United return to the Europa League against Sevilla.
It’s almost ironic that an injury to his teammate has given Martial the chance to prove his worth, with his own stint with the Premier League giants pockmarked by setbacks – 19 to be exact – but he’s been gifted with a rare gift of luck in the run-up to the confrontation with his old club.
With Rashford out there is a chance for Martial to be in the spotlight in attack – whether he starts at the top or as a substitute on the left, with Wout Weghorst in the central role.
But with the England star in scintillating form this season, and only ‘a couple of games’ out if Ten Hag’s claims are to be believed, this is an opportunity Martial should seize with both hands and not pass up.
He has played just 798 minutes this season – less than nine games – and has not played a full 90 minutes in the 2022/23 season, appearing in no more than three games in a month all season.
Manchester United have won every game in which Anthony Martial has scored this season
Marcus Rashford was ruled out of the Europa League quarter-final after a groin injury
The 27-year-old scored in his most recent appearance against Everton in the Premier League
Those numbers do not bode well for Ten Hag’s replacement striker, but they are probably not the numbers the Dutchman will look at.
“You say I defended him, but I’m just pointing out the statistics,” said the United boss. “The statistics tell you that when he’s on the pitch, he takes less time to score [than others].’
The ‘stats’ he refers to emphasize that Martial’s last nine games in which he has scored have all resulted in wins for his side, his most recent appearance being against Everton at the weekend.
They also show that the No. 9’s seven hits have a goal-per-minute ratio of 114 minutes – compared to Rashford’s mark of one every 127 minutes – and that he has come up with the goods this year in some of the club’s biggest matches. season.
He picked up a brace in United’s humiliating 6-3 defeat to rivals City, and provided an assist in their full win over Liverpool in October, and scored what proved to be a decisive goal in Omonia Nikosia’s 3-2 defeat.
“When he’s in the team, I’m referring to games against Man City and Liverpool [in August], we play our best football and get the best results as a team. I see how he contributes to this team,” Ten Hag said of his contributions.
“We don’t have to force it [with Martial] – we are careful. The advantage is that we can slowly bring Anthony Martial back into the team, give him minutes, get him used to playing at the highest level, with high intensity.
“I have to say the front line against Brentford and Everton worked really well. I think we were a constant threat. It was difficult to defend for the opponent.’
The 27-year-old played a vital role in the club’s victory over Liverpool earlier this season
The Frenchman endured a torrid loan spell at Sevilla last season, scoring just once for the Spanish side
This isn’t to say it’s Rashford or Martial for Ten Hag – that’s a match the former will win, regardless of whether the latter scores a hat-trick on Thursday night.
Rashford has been equally devastating on the left, with Weghorst’s impotence in front of goal being the main reason behind his recent switch to a central role.
Erik ten Hag has supported Martial in the absence of his star man
If Martial can take his chance and prove he is capable of leading regularly, then it could give Ten Hag the opportunity to play Rashford on the left side, and allow Jadon Sancho and Antony to to fight it out for the spot on the right wing. .
But the 27-year-old needs little encouragement to prove himself against Sevilla.
He spent the second half of last season on loan at the Spanish side, and with just one goal and an assist in 12 games, he fell far short of expectations.
Now the Frenchman has a chance to prove the wrong Spanish outlet IFwho described his time at LaLiga as a ‘fiasco’.
Still, it’s not about righting wrongs from his past, but proving he deserves to be a part of the club’s near future.
Martial’s contract at Old Trafford expires at the end of next season, and while the club has an option to extend that for a further year, there is no certainty such an offer will come without proof he can still do it deleted at the end of the season. top level.
Martial has delivered little on the promise he came out of Monaco in 2015
The Frenchman has scored just 138 goals at Old Trafford in more than seven years
Since arriving in 2015, he has largely failed to live up to the huge promise he brought with him from Monaco, scoring just 138 goals in over seven years, and time is running out for the Frenchman.
He will also be all too aware of the club’s intentions to bring in an outright number 9 in the summer, and will certainly want to show Ten Hag that he can still compete for that role in the massive clearance that goes come.
With time starting to trickle down for him at the Premier League giants, it is approaching the make or break point of his United career and he may not get as good a chance as Thursday’s game for a while.
Rashford’s goals have already made United a piece of silverware this season, Martial now has the chance to make his own contributions count in the club’s push for a second.