Forget Marcus Rashford and move over Paul Pogba, because Anthony Martial is Manchester United’s most important player this season.
The Frenchman is in fantastic form. He has scored twice already this term and goes into Fantasy Premier League gameweek 3 with 14 points. It is the second-best tally for Manchester United after two gameweeks.
Martial came into the new season with confidence, which was something he lacked under Jose Mourinho. Martial was made to feel insignificant when Mourinho was boss being asked to come back from summer holiday early despite his partner having a child.
The Frenchman’s best seasons have come at Old Trafford before and after Mourinho managed Manchester United. Martial tallied 11 Premier League goals in 2015-16 but could only manage four and nine in the next two seasons. He rebounded last term with 10 strikes.
Martial has started the season well but why is he doing so well?
Martial is playing as a No. 9 down the middle. Unlike in years past, Martial is not playing on the left-wing as Rashford has been deployed there. Rashford also has two goals this term (although one was not from open play) and an assist.
Anthony Martial: FPL Bargain
Martial is a major bargain in FPL currently. He costs just £7.7 million and is delivering in FPL points. Gameweek 2 saw 619,935 FPL managers transfer Martial into their fantasy football teams.
The Frenchman has tallied triple-digits in three of his four previous seasons at Manchester United. Last term saw him score 122 FPL points. It followed on from a season in which he scored 125 FPL points.
Martial averaged 120.75 FPL points over his last four seasons at Manchester United. With 14 points in two gameweeks, the striker looks good value to reach that average at the very least. Martial is still listed as a midfielder by FPL. Managers can transfer Martial into their teams and deploy him as a midfielder although he will play as a striker for Manchester United.
Anthony Martial: Can he keep it up?
Manchester United have started well, but the question is, can they keep it up? The Red Devils started well under manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer when he took over last season but fell off in the final months.
To think Manchester United can keep up this pace of play is a bit much. Even against Wolverhampton Wanderers, it felt like the Manchester United from the second half of last season wanted to pop up in the final 45 minutes.
Pogba’s poor penalty that was saved by Rui Patricio was an example of the Manchester United that fans do not want to see.
Martial will be key in Manchester United’s Premier League season. He is now the No. 9 with Romelu Lukaku gone. Rashford has shown himself to be capable of scoring goals, but his best tally was last season with 10. Martial equalled that Premier League total.
When Louis van Gaal signed Martial from Monaco, he said the Frenchman was a player for the future after he was long gone. Van Gaal wasn’t lying as Martial is still scoring goals after the Dutchman was sacked in 2016.