Anthony Martial has clear task in Man Utd training under Erik ten Hag

Anthony Martial could be handed a fresh chance to impress under Erik ten Hag after the Frenchman returned to pre-season training with Manchester United

Manchester United began pre-season training on Monday morning as Erik ten Hag took charge of his first session ahead of their Premier League opener against Brighton.

The Red Devils have six friendlies before the clash with the Seagulls where Ten Hag is expected to try out new things and get his side ready for the upcoming campaign. They will face Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Rayo Vallecano, Aston Villa, Atletico Madrid and Melbourne Victory in preparation for the season and a number of fringe players could be given a fresh chance to impress in those matches.

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Someone who may be handed a new lease of life at United is Anthony Martial after the France international spent the second-half of last campaign on loan at Sevilla. He has returned to the Red Devils for pre-season having failed to score in nine La Liga appearances while at the Spanish club.

This is after Martial netted just once in 12 games for United – scoring his only goal in a 1-1 draw against Everton back in October. It proved to be an extremely tough campaign for the player but Ten Hag should give him another chance to regain his place back in United’s first-team squad.

Two seasons ago Martial was one of United’s most important players as they finished inside the top-four after producing an excellent return, scoring 23 goals and providing 12 assists in 48 matches. He was rewarded with the club’s Player’s Player of the Year award for his efforts, while claiming United’s Golden Boot award for 2019/20.

But Martial’s form has seemed to have dropped off ever since he was sent off in the Red Devils’ thumping 6-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in October 2020. He netted just nine times during an injury and suspension hit campaign and started the most recent season out of Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer’s plans.

Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo were all ahead of him in the pecking order and Martial was barely given a chance to impress Ralf Rangnick when he became interim manager in November. He played just eight minutes of Premier League football and contributed to their late winner over West Ham United.

Despite having a torrid time with Sevilla in southern Spain, there is no doubt Martial is still talented and needs a fresh start under a new manager who can get the best out of him. Ten Hag has been able to revolutionise careers in the past, having made Sebastian Haller a profilic goalscorer and Dusan Tadic a clinical forward – something the pair of them struggled to be at West Ham and Southampton.

The Dutchman will be hoping he can do the same with Martial and transform him back into the player he once was. The former Monaco attacker was touted with a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2020, before deciding to stay at United and he has now got to show why Ten Hag should start him regularly.

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A pacy, direct forward, Martial has the qualities many Premier League clubs would be looking for in a player and is at an age now where he is hitting his prime years. He can either play out wide on the left or through the middle – something Ten Hag would like with Cristiano Ronaldo needing a rest every so often and Edinson Cavani now no longer at the club.

Whilst Ten Hag has been linked with forward options, it seems clear his priorities lie elsewhere and, with that in mind, Martial will be clear that his task in pre-season is to impress his new manager and show he can play his part.

Martial’s strong assist record over the past couple of seasons suggests he has the tactical intelligence needed to play in a Ten Hag team, where you will be required to keep the ball and make smart runs in behind to break down a low block. If the 52-year-old decides to play a more high pressing system Martial has the energy and work rate to do that – having proven that under Solskjaer.

Positionally, Ten Hag demands excellence and requires discipline on and off the ball with a set system and approach. Martial must follow that and be able to adapt when required, and with the talent he has at his disposal, there is no reason why he cannot force himself back into the senior squad if he takes his pre-season chances.

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One of Ten Hag’s remits is to try and get the best out of those who had dismal campaigns such as Rashford, Harry Maguire, Sancho and Martial. In the latter’s case, he has previously produced high quality performances for United and it is now down to him to highlight that capability remains to Ten Hag.