ANTHONY MARTIAL lacks the desire to a be Premier League goal-machine, according to Alan Shearer.
Manchester United are the top-scoring team in the Premier League this season with 53 goals from their 25 games.
Shearer has criticised Martial’s attitude after drawing yet another blank vs NewcastleCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Shearer claimed Martial doesn’t show the ‘desire’ to score goalsCredit: Rex Features
But Martial – expected to be the lead centre-forward this term – has managed just FOUR of them.
The French star, 25, had led the United attack since the return from the original lockdown last season, with fellow forwards Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood pushed out wide.
Edinson Cavani was signed on a free transfer in the summer to add some experience and provide some competition for Martial.
But instead, the Uruguayan veteran has become the No1 striker for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, such are Martial’s struggles.
And Shearer – the top scorer in Premier League history with 260 goals – has torn into him in a scathing assessment.
Speaking on Match of the Day 2, the Newcastle legend said: “Only four league goals this season, not enough movement, he’s certainly not desperate enough to score goals.
“When you look at his positioning, he spends far too much time [out wide] when you need someone in the box.
“Not once does he look to get anywhere near that box to score goals.
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“He’s spending too much time out there [wide], there’s no focal point, there’s no one there to hold the ball up.
“He should realise he should get out of there and get into the box.
“I don’t think it means enough to him to put that ball into the back of the net.
“He’s only ever scored more than 20 goals in a season once. And that’s not just league goals.
“When you consider Manchester United are top scorers in the Premier League with 53 and he’s got four, I don’t think that’s anywhere near enough.”
Martial joined Man Utd from Monaco in 2015 for a fee of £36million rising to £57.6m.
Despite that, many critics believe he will come good and just lacks ‘experience’ – something Shearer was quick to rebuff.
Shearer added: “Apparently he’s the one who says he wants play centre forward, he deserves to be in there…
“Well his numbers I think have to be a lot better if he wants to play in that position.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a lack of experience. This is his sixth season at Manchester United.
“I would say it’s his lack of hunger and lack of desire to get in there to constantly score goals you need to.
“He had a good season in terms of numbers last season but you have to do that on a regular basis, particularly when Man Utd are scoring as many as they are.”
Now into his sixth season at Old Trafford, Martial has only hit double figures in the Premier League on three occasions.
His top return for a season is 17 goals in 2019-20, with 11 (2015-16) and ten (2018-19) his next-highest efforts.
Martial’s tally of four goals this term is his joint-lowest return, with the striker most-recently failing to get on the scoresheet in the 3-1 win over Newcastle despite starting as the central striker.
The Frenchman has only scored two goals since New Year’s Day – both of which came in the 9-0 mauling of Southampton.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
