Romelu Lukaku left Manchester United for Inter Milan just before the end of the transfer window and over the last few days, reports in Italy have suggested Alexis Sanchez could follow his former teammate to San Siro.
If he does, then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would left with Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and youngster Mason Greenwood as the four players who can play as the main striker.
Over the last three seasons, the Frenchman has been forced to play on the wide position, but that has changed this term. The Red Devils manager started Martial as the No 9 in the first two matches and the latter has admitted he is feeling positive over his new role.
“In the preseason, I was assigned the striker role and it went well. In addition to this, Romelu Lukaku was also injured [during the preseason]. I continued in the striker role in training, which also went well,” Martial told Norway’s TV2.
“After the game I was told that it worked very well. After that, he [Solskjaer] made a choice, and it was the right choice. Now I’m starting to get back the good feeling.”
The 23-year-old arrived at Old Trafford from AS Monaco in 2015 and in his debut season, he played as the striker under Louis van Gaal’s guidance. Apart from returning to his preferred position, Martial also got the preferred number on his back.
United handed him No 9 when he arrived, but he had to give it up to Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2016. A year later, Lukaku replaced the Swede as the club’s new No 9 and the number was available after Lukaku’s move to Inter.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve played with number nine on my back. It’s my favourite number. Now I get to play in my position. It is in the striker role that I want to show that I am the best. At the moment things are going pretty well,” he added.
On the pressure of having No 9, Martial said: “When you play as a striker, your task is to score as many goals as possible. The striker role does mean a little extra pressure, but that’s not something I think about at all. Whatever personal goals I set; I’d rather keep it to myself.”
“Marcus Rashford and I work well together. Most of our qualities are same. We know each other well, both on and off the field. We have been playing together for several years now, it is going very well. So now we just have to keep working in the training field and perfecting the collaboration.”
Martial has scored two goals in two matches for United this season.
