Manchester United fans came up with an ingenious stadium chant to show their enduring support for striker Antony Martial.
'Tony Martial came from France, the English Press said he had no chance, £50million down the drain, Tony Martial scores again!'
United fans would belt out the refrain whenever Martial played and scored, for a while, the sentiment behind the sharp-witted chant seemed fully justified.
Martial plundered a career-best 23 goals in the 2019-20 season, earning him the Players' Player of the Year award and suggesting he was capable of leading United's attack.
But last season saw him regress, the 25-year-old managing just seven goals, while this term the return of Cristiano Ronaldo has restricted France international Martial to a solitary start.
On Wednesday night, with United hosting West Ham in the Carabao Cup, Martial will get the chance to prove he still has something to offer, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer set to name him in his starting line-up.
But unlike Jesse Lingard, who returned from his loan spell at the Hammers rejuvenated, with two goals already this season, including a stunning winner at the London Stadium at the weekend, Martial seems to have gone the other way.
His one start this season, in a 1-1 draw at Southampton, saw him hauled off just before the hour, while he remained an unused sub in United's 2-1 win at West Ham on Sunday.
With Ronaldo now United's first-choice up front, Edinson Cavani second-choice when fit, and Mason Greenwood, Jadon Sancho, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford – when fit – all ahead of him for the wide roles, Martial has become marginalised.
It is a spectacular fall from grace for a striker who became an instant hero with United fans when, at 19, he came off the bench on his debut to score a stunning solo goal to seal a 3-1 win over arch rivals Liverpool in 2015.
Since then, Martial has flattered to deceive, showing his undeniable talent all too infrequently, his lacklustre body language and insouciant air having caused many United fans to revise their opinion on his value.
There is still time for Martial to revive his stagnant United career, but with Ronaldo back and proving his enduring quality with four goals in three games, opportunities for the France striker will be limited.
Martial is understood to have passed up the opportunity to return to Lyon – where his career began – in the latest transfer window, convinced he still had much to offer United.
In the Carabao Cup he has to show just that and convince Solskjaer – and United fans – he still has a role to play and a future at the club.
