When Anthony Martial registered 23 goals during the 2019/20 season, it felt like it had finally clicked for the Manchester United forward.
In his fifth season for the club, the Frenchman finally topped 20 strikes in all competitions and started to look like a long-term option as a centre forward.
With Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood either side, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may have been thinking he had the makings of a strike-force to bring a title back to Old Trafford.
Red Devils legend Paul Scholes always felt that was premature, suggesting the former Monaco star had ‘conned’ some into thinking he was a natural centre forward.
"The problem with United's forwards is that none of them is an actual centre-forward,” Scholes said in October of last year.
"Martial almost conned us into thinking he was one at the end of last season because he scored so many goals and was quite good.
"He's started this season quite poorly again, which makes you think he isn't. It's misleading. That's why I've kept saying we need a top-class No. 9."
And with the goals completely drying up – he has just two in his last 14 games – the criticism has continued to roll in.
It’s not the first time that Martial has become a lightning rod for negative headlines since his £50million move in 2015.
Under Jose Mourinho in 2018, the 25-year-old was fined when he missed nine days of pre-season training after the birth of his second child.
During that summer, it was suggested that Tottenham made a concerted effort to sign Martial, with the then United boss willing to sanction a deal.
The Guardian reported that Mourinho had offered a ‘withering assessment’ of the player behind the scenes and was keen for him to seal an exit.
It’s believed United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward actually fielded calls from Spurs and Daniel Levy, deciding that he would not be sold.
At the time, Martial, along with Luke Shaw and Paul Pogba were seen as long-term assets who could be with the club for years to come.
But fast-forward two-and-a-half years and similar murmurings are beginning to resurface. With just seven goals in all competitions, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has staunchly defended the player, has been forced to send a pointed message.
He said: “Anthony knows what we want. He’s not going to sit down and wait for things to happen.
"He knows he will have to make it happen himself. Everyone goes through a difficult patch. Is working hard and that’s the main thing."
The numbers don’t make for pleasant reading and Edinson Cavani has undoubtedly emerge as United's first-choice option when fit.
Martial has previously admitted he prefers to play in the centre, but that claim is coming under scrutiny from an expert of the craft.
“I’ve read that Martial wants to be Manchester United’s main centre-forward and that he sees it as his position. I don’t,” the Premier League ’s record scorer, Alan Shearer said in his latest Athletic column.
It’s a damning indictment from a man that knows more than any other about scoring in the top-flight.
“He’s been there for six years,” Shearer added. “Last season was his best in terms of numbers, but he’s never scored more than 20 league goals in a campaign and I just don’t see the desperation, the hunger, desire and know-how to be a No 9, to score as many goals as he should. I see the talent but that isn’t enough at a club that wants to challenge for the biggest honours.”
That’s the dilemma Solskjaer now faces. For all of the good work Martial does, at this point in time the goal output simply isn’t sufficient.
Woodward blocked his sale three years ago, it would be fascinating to see if he could be tempted this time around.
