Martial backed to become a "number 9 like Ronaldo"

Dwight Yorke is backing Anthony Martial to become the number 9 Manchester United needs.

Anthony Martial finished the season as Manchester United’s top scorer.

He broke the 20 goal barrier in a single season for the first time since his arrival at Old Trafford four and a half years ago.

The Frenchman has been far from consistent during his time with the Red Devils, and much of that has been down to the position he has played.

Over the past four and bit seasons, we have become accustomed to seeing Martial out on the wing. Sometimes showing a turn of pace, and cutting in to twist and turn.

While it has been enthralling at times he has not been able to deliver the goals his team has so desperately needed.

Following the sale of Lukaku, and the departure of Sanchez, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was left a little short of firepower.

It was Martial’s time to shine, and that he has. He has been given the chance to play the leading role as the club’s main center forward in what is known as the number nine spot.

A man all too familiar with being United’s go-to guy for goals, Dwight Yorke sees a player reminiscent of footballing legends.

The treble winner firmly backs Martial to prove himself as an out and out goalscorer but insists he must be allowed to play that position week in and week out to fulfill his potential.

Speaking to Talk Sport, he said:

“A number nine is a very unique position. It’s a very rare breed, and it seems like it’s gone out of the game a bit.”

“It’s a specialist position and probably the hardest position you can play, you can only get better in that position if you play week-in, week-out.”

“Anthony Martial is like myself, Thierry Henry, maybe Wayne Rooney and even Cristiano Ronaldo – starting on the wing, developing and improving their skills and then get to that number nine position. That’s what Martial is doing now.”

“I think Martial will get better, but he needs to play in that position a lot more, He needs to learn his trade.”

The Red Devils could do worse than bring in an expert teacher this summer to push Martial onto the next level.