Erik ten Hag backs Anthony Martial to reignite Man Utd career

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Erik ten Hag backs Anthony Martial to reignite Man Utd career

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has insisted that Anthony Martial can come back into the first-team fold 'even better' after a disappointing couple of seasons.

Martial's Man Utd career got off to a whirlwind start when he first arrived from Monaco in 2015, scoring on his debut against Liverpool and proving to be a bright spark in an otherwise forgettable season at Old Trafford.

After falling out of favour under Jose Mourinho, Martial looked more comfortable with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the helm. He ended the 2019/20 campaign with a career-high 23 goals in all competitions, including 17 from open play in the Premier League and scooping the club's Players' Player of the Year award.

However, he has scored just nine times since - including once in an underwhelming loan at Sevilla in the second half of last season - and has struggled to make an impact wherever he's played.

But Martial has scored in both of Man Utd's pre-season wins under Ten Hag thus far, and the Dutchman is assured that the France forward has the quality to succeed at Old Trafford.

"I'm sure he can come back even better," Ten Hag said after Friday's 4-1 win over Melbourne Victory. "I think when he has the right focus and the right motivation and he works hard he will have production because he is a good player.

"I say when he has the right focus and every day delivers much then he will have production and it's up to him."