Micheal Owen believes Manchester United still need to sign a ‘proper No.9 despite Anthony Martial scoring a hat-trick in Wednesday’s 3-0 home win against Sheffield United.
Martial has made no secret of the fact that he sees himself as a central striker despite often been used as a winger during his time at Old Trafford.
The France international made a statement of intent on landing the role on a permanent basis with his first senior hat-trick against Chris Wilder’s men.
Owen is among those who feel that a more natural finisher would be better suited to the role, with United having worked hard to assemble a supporting cast that now boasts some of the Premier League’s most exciting creative influences.
“We’re judging a team that has been below-par for a long time. Now, all of a sudden, they have got a lot of good players,”Owen told Premier League Productions.
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“[Marcus] Rashford missed a chance in the first half and if he had put it in, it would have been one of the goals of the season. The intricate play on the edge of the box was absolutely brilliant.
“So now I think he’s [Martial] going to get more service, and now is the right time to be playing as a centre-forward for Manchester United – with the likes of [Paul] Pogba and [Bruno] Fernandes and all these players in and around you.
“Is he one that’s going to be the No.9 for years to come? At the minute he looks very inconsistent. He will score a hat-trick, but is he going to constantly score a lot of goals? There is still a question mark.
“There is still a question about what is his best position. I think it’s probably off the left, but then again that’s probably Marcus Rashford’s best position.
“They are shuffling the pack a little bit at the moment but if you ask most people, they will say: ‘Where do Manchester United need to strengthen? They need a main No.9’.”
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COMMENTS
It’s very obvious that Manchester ex players are the ones destroying this club, I wonder where the new number will play and what will happen to Greenwood Mason and co.
Micheal Owen break into the Liverpool senior side at his teen (17 yrs)!!!
He was given an opportunity to develop and went on to have a good career; thou he retired early!
But whichever club he join after Liverpool in Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City; he was given a good considerable amount of time to perform!!
How would he feel during his active playing days; if an ex-international or pundit or news media; suggested to his club side to get another player to take over his position?
I which he is reading this? I would love to hear his candid answer?
Owen in Liverpool was more of a fox in the box….he cant dribble and he barely defend.
In this present day soccer, I rate Marcus Rashford and Anthony Marital well above him when he was starring in Liverpool or Real Madrid back then!!!
Sometimes, most of these ex-internationals or coaches working as pundit sabi talk anyhow!!!