Dwight Yorke has made a ruthless declaration to Anthony Martial as doubts over the French striker's future at Manchester United persist.
Although Martial scored in the Red Devils' 1-1 draw with Everton on Sunday, the man who used to lead the line for United says he needs to "buckle down" if he wants to remain at Old Trafford.
"When you play for this club and you’re not doing the business and your form dips for whatever reason you’re going to be under scrutiny," Yorke stated in an interview with Goal. "He’s got to buckle down really if he has a future at this football club.
"He’s undoubtedly got immense talent and all the attributes we like to see in an attacking player and there’s no question he can be that vital player for us but at the moment he’s not in the squad and he’s got to find a way to get back into the team."
Martial was signed in 2015 under Louis van Gaal and was arguably the Red Devils' best outfielder player alongside Chris Smalling in his first season, another year which saw David De Gea pick up the Sir Matt Busby award.
His electric displays on the left flank or up front saw supporters tip him for great things, potentially even meaning United would have to pay Monaco the reported Ballon d'Or clause inserted in his contract when Ed Woodward and co shelled out £36 million on the 19-year-old.
Six years later, though, and both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have seen Martial struggle for consistent form blended with glimpses of quality.
The post-lockdown period in 2020 was his finest spell since the days of Van Gaal as he finished the term with 23 goals and 12 assists - his only campaign at Old Trafford in which he has netted more than 20 strikes.
"He’s been a bit of a mixed bag to be fair," Yorke said of the 25-year-old.
"He had that one season when he was outstanding and he looked a serious threat but I think he’s been unfairly treated in some way because I think that No.9 role is a specialist role and you have to play that position week in, week out, to get familiarised with it."
Does Martial still have a future at Man Utd? Give us your verdict here.
"When he first started off he started off on the left and then the right so he’s not really settled that much," Solskjaer's former team-mate continued.
"He needs to be playing week in week out to really see the best of him. You can’t give him 10 or 20 minutes and expect him to be the finished article, it just doesn’t happen."
Solskjaer himself evidently still has some faith in the France international as he handed him a start when Everton came to town despite a lacklustre showing against West Ham 10 days prior.
But Martial departed the pitch early in the second half in place of Cristiano Ronaldo and his manager has since explained that the substitution was forced as he praised the striker for his opening goal.
"[It was] great movement, great interlink play," Solskjaer told MUTV. "Scott [McTominay], Mason [Greenwood], Bruno [Fernandes], Anthony: good finish. Very pleased for him and with him.
"Unfortunately he got a knock and had to come off."
