Anthony Martial is running the risk of becoming a Manchester United urban legend.
Did he really move from Monaco for £36m (BBC) – then the highest fee paid for a teenager – six years ago?
Was the Frenchman actually named United’s Players’ Player of the Year in 2019/20?
Are you sure he tied with Marcus Rashford for the club’s top Premier League scorer that same season?
Unlike many old wives’ tales, these whispers are not just made of hot air.
They all actually happened, believe it or not.
But as Martial’s United tenure continues to crumble, one would be excused for questioning his existence at Old Trafford.
He has started just two games for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer since March, his absence owed to a ruptured knee ligament.
The forward hasn’t quite looked the same following the eventual recovery from such serious damage.
Once the spritely, fearless teenager; now a slumbered, struggling mid 20s attacker.
However, there is an opportunity to relive the glory era of days gone by right around the corner.
United travel to West Ham United’s London Stadium this Sunday, eager to eradicate the memory of their mid-week Champions League loss to Young Boys.
Whilst Solskjaer’s side were struck down by Swiss persistence, the Hammers nailed their first Europa League game, beating Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 away from home.
Hammer time
Thanks to their respective continental exploits, the onus really is on the Red Devils to retrieve a result.
Especially as a win for David Moyes would send West Ham above his former employers in the table.
From a Manchester standpoint, United must be triumphant.
So, who are they going to rely on for such a conquest?
Cristiano Ronaldo? Mason Greenwood? Bruno Fernandes?
How about Anthony Martial, the player who absolutely loves playing the boys in claret and blue.
If Solskjaer is the superstitious type, then he cannot look beyond starting the 25-year-old this weekend.
In 11 games facing the Irons, Martial has scored six times, the joint-most goals (with Everton) he’s managed against one opponent.
Add to that five assists – another career-high – and the stats simply don’t lie; the man from Massy is West Ham’s kryptonite.
Of course, managerial decisions cannot be based on good omens and previous records.
Yet, Solskjaer might look more favourably upon Martial’s potential inclusion for this particular fixture.
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