Matic: Martial can be one of the best

Anthony Martial can blossom into a Premier League great - if he starts to believe in himself.

That’s the opinion of the French striker’s Manchester United team-mate Nemanja Matic.

Martial is beginning to get his swagger back for the Reds, scoring four league goals in his last three starting appearances.

The 22-year-old's brilliant trademark right-foot drive, after cutting in from the left against Everton’s defence on Sunday, proved to be the winner at Old Trafford. It added to his brace at Stamford Bridge in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea and his goal in the 3-2 home win over Newcastle United.

Prior to this latest batch of goals, Martial had scored just once this season, against Young Boys in Switzerland in the Champions League. But the Frenchman is now undeniably on a hot streak.

“Anthony is a great player and he needs to understand that,“ said Matic after Sunday's match. ”He needs more confidence. He is still young and I think if he continues to score he will get that.

“If he reaches his top level he can be one of the best players in the league for sure.“

“Sometimes I don’t think he understands how good he is. He is quick, he is good with the ball, he can run. He has everything that a Manchester United football player needs. Sometimes I don’t think he understands that.

“If I had his ability with the ball and I was as quick as him then I wouldn’t pass to anyone and I would score every game!

“To be serious, he does need more confidence and this comes with results. When you don’t have results it is very difficult for players to have that high confidence.

“If we can get results over the next few games and improve as a team he will show that he is very important for us.

“The manager speaks with him about it. I have told him once! But he is a great person and a great guy and I am happy for him that he is scoring. It is great.

“The quality is there, confidence is there now and he just needs to be more consistent. I am glad we have him in the team.

“In football and in life you have difficult times and you have to get back on track and that is exactly what he is doing.”

Romelu Lukaku is another who needs to get back into the groove, with United manager Jose Mourinho admitting he put the Belgian on the bench against Everton due to a lack of confidence in recent matches.

Like his boss, Matic feels the striker can soon mirror Martial’s return to form.

“He (Lukaku) is a great player for sure. He has scored a lot of goals for United so I don’t see any problems for him,” added Nemanja.