Manchester United legends Andy Cole and Gary Neville SAVAGE Anthony Martial as he’s given a rare start against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup
- Andy Cole highlighted Martial’s goalscoring record since signing in 2015
- Neville has insisted Man United should have let go of the French striker
- Listen to the latest episode of the Mail Sport podcast ‘It all begins!’
Manchester United legends Andy Cole and Gary Neville have claimed Anthony Martial is a symbol of the club’s struggling football fortunes after the striker was chosen to take charge against Newcastle.
Cole highlighted how Martial had scored 89 goals in his 310 appearances for the club since joining in 2015.
The former striker insisted the statistics showed Martial was unable to help the club achieve success.
‘It’s tough, he’s been here for nine years now. When you play for Man United and he hasn’t scored enough goals,” Cole told Sky Sports.
“I think to myself, can he get himself where they need to be? He’s been here nine years and hasn’t done it yet, so there’s little chance he’ll do it now.”
Anthony Martial was given a start in Manchester United’s Carabao Cup tie with Newcastle
Martial was highly rated when he signed as a teenager for a fee that could reach £57.6 million.
Man United ended up paying just £44.7 million as bonus payments were not triggered.
The 27-year-old scored nine goals for Man United last season after returning from a short loan spell at Sevilla in 2022.
Neville insisted it was ‘absolutely incredible’ that Martial remains at the club, although he admitted his time at the club was affected by a series of injuries.
The former Man United defender has insisted that the lack of quality options has increased the pressure on the club’s £72million summer signing. Ramus Hojlund.
‘Andy has produced strong statistics there. “You hear the stats out there and think he’s a £50/60m goalscorer who’s scored 89 goals in nine years and we still can’t get him out of the club,” Neville said.
‘I don’t think we’re tough enough. The failure of the football and recruiting department is absolutely unbelievable.
‘The reality is that he should not be leading the way in any competition.
“They have the young lad Hojlund, who is really promising, but needs experience alongside him.
‘If he came to United and his partner was Cole, Yorke or Cantona you would see a sensation because the pressure would be off him. I feel for him a little bit.’
