In the away game against Partizan, Anthony Martial scored the winning penalty, but he did not look fully fit.
In the home fixture against the Serbians last night he looked like he was nearly back to his very best.
Martial led the line superbly, exchanging neat passes with Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood, and his goal was special.
Martial took four touches to take two defenders out of the game and prodded the ball past the goalkeeper into the corner of the net. It was the type of goal no other player in the United team would be capable of scoring.
It should have opened the floodgates for him, and he had a chance minutes later which he scooped over the bar.
Martial finished the game with just the one shot on target from three attempts, so there is room for improvement.
But when he scores goals like that, and United win, that’s all people will remember, and rightly so.
It was a sign he is back and has his confidence after injury halted his promising start to the season.
Strong record
This was Anthony Martial’s fifth goal of the season, from seven starts. Add in substitute appearances and it’s five goals from nine games.
The forward was overlooked again this week for France’s recent international squad, but if he keeps on scoring then it will be difficult for Didier Deschamps to continue to ignore him.
Martial need to be more clinical, and we could have done with a goal like this from him against Bournemouth last weekend.
He can get better, and hopefully he will be able to follow this up at the weekend with a goal or two at home to Brighton.
His link up play was superb and with Greenwood and Martial on either side, United are a more unpredictable attack to defend against.
Loving what we saw
Martial’s solo goal was so easy on the eye and fans love to see him in full flow.
Here is a look at some of the reaction to Martial’s performance in the 3-0 victory…
- David Brooks would be a smart Sancho alternative for Manchester United this summer
- If Manchester United have ruled out permanent Ighalo move, they must focus on Dembele
- Manchester United could see reported target Nuno Mendes as a winger in the long term
- Ethan Galbraith must impress on loan to jump ahead of Levitt and Garner at Manchester United
- Teden Mengi deserves to replace Phil Jones in Manchester United squad