Anthony Martial struggling for starts since Ronaldo arrived

Anthony Martial

has been struggling for form in the last year, although, he was able to score his first goal of the season in the game against Everton at the weekend. The Frenchman has been dealing with injuries, however, he managed to score seven goals through 36 appearances.

Since

Cristiano Ronaldo

arrived at Old Trafford, he has only started two games, prompting many to think his time at

needs to come to an end.

Dwight Yorke

believes if the 25-year-old wants to stay for a long-time at the club, he needs big improvements. Yorke also admits Martial needs a good run of games to be given a fair chance this season.

“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. He’s got to buckle down really if he has a future at this football club,”

Yorke told

.

“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.” 

The France forward has been struggling to hit the heights since he arrived at the club in 2015 except for the 2019-20 season. He has only been able to score over 20 goals once in his six seasons and that has rightly brought some criticism.

“He’s been a bit of a mixed bag to be fair. 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 familiarized with it,” Yorke said.

“When he first started off he started off on the left and then the right so he’s not really settled that much.

“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.”

The arrival of Ronaldo is another obstacle to Martial’s game time, however, Solskjaer has been keen to ensure his team don’t become too focused on the Portugal international but with such a big name in the squad, it’s hard to get the attention away from him.

“I think we can still see that it’s about the team. I don’t think it’s the case to just get the ball into Ronaldo,” the former United defender said. "I think there will be total respect there for what he’s done and achieved and the standard he still brings to the club and the standard he brings to himself.

“Ultimately the players are the ones trying to set him up, he’s playing that No.9 spot, he’ll hold the ball up and be in the right spot but ultimately getting the ball to him is the job of all the other players.” 

Yorke believes the arrival of the Portugal international should be enough to force those around him to step up and deliver.

“The players have to step up to the plate and if you can’t buzz off that and feed off that energy and the high standard that he brings then something must be wrong at the club,” Yorke added. “That’s what the players have to understand, they can’t always rely on him because yes he’ll have off days and people need to contribute, but when you have a special player like that in the team you get a buzz from it.”

Follow

for the