Anthony Martial goals per game: How he compares to Marcus Rashford

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Manchester United have to figure out how to replace Marcus Rashford this week, and Anthony Martial is ready to step in.

Anthony Martial made his return from injury earlier this month and should be ready to start against Sevilla.

Manager Erik ten Hag told his press conference that Martial could have started at the weekend, but he chose to be cautious.

He said: “I think already against Everton he was ready to start the game. The advantage was also that we could bring Anthony Martial slowly back into the team, give him some minutes and get him used to games at the highest level, and highest intensity.”

Ten Hag went on to add that he is confident in Martial, pointing out that United are a better side when he plays.

He said: “The stats are telling you that the moment he is on the pitch, the time he needs for a goal is [short].

“When he is in the team, I refer to games against Man City and Liverpool, we play our best football and we have the best results as a team.”

Anthony Martial goals per game

Scoring goals has not been a problem for Anthony Martial this season. The issue has been staying fit, staying on the pitch.

His goals per game rate in all competitions is the best in the Manchester United squad, even better than Marcus Rashford, per FBRef.

• Anthony Martial: 0.79 goals per game
• Marcus Rashford: 0.71
• Alejandro Garnacho: 0.34
• Fred: 0.29
• Jadon Sancho: 0.28
• Antony: 0.27

Wout Weghorst‘s goals per game rate is just 0.13, as another point of comparison.

Marcus Rashford has scored 28 goals this season, while Martial now has seven. But had Martial been fit all season and scored at the same rate he has been, he would be outscoring Rashford.

He did so in Rashford’s previous top scoring season in 2019/20, when Martial struck 23 goals to Rashford’s 22.

The pair have a strong connection, linking up for 21 goals across their career, including Rashford’s assist for Martial at the weekend against Everton.

But for now we are back to having just one of them available. Martial is the best replacement United could ask for – so long as he actually stays fit.