Manchester United legends Andy Cole and Gary Neville SAVAGE Anthony Martial as he’s given a rare start against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup

Manchester United legends Andy Cole and Gary Neville have claimed Anthony Martial is a symbol of the club’s struggling football operations after the forward was chosen to lead the line against Newcastle.

Cole highlighted how Martial had scored 89 goals in his 310 appearances for the club since joining back in 2015.

The former forward insisted the statistics showed Martial was not capable of helping the club to success.

‘It is a tough, one he has been here for nine years now. When you are playing for Man United and he has not got enough goals,’ Cole told Sky Sports.

‘I think to myself can he take themselves to where they need to be. He has been here nine years and hasn’t done it, so there is little chance of him doing it now.’

Martial had been highly rated when he signed as a teenager for a fee potentially rising to £57.6m.

Man United eventually only ended up paying £44.7m, due to bonus payments not being activated.

The 27-year-old scored nine goals for Man United last season, after returning from a brief loan spell at Sevilla in 2022.

Neville insisted it was ‘absolutely incredible’ that Martial remains at the club, although admitted his time at the club had been impacted by a series of injuries.

The former Man United defender insisted the lack of quality options has increased the pressure on the club’s £72m summer signing. Ramus Hojlund.

‘Andy has come up with stats there that are stark. When you hear the stats there and think he is a goalscorer that cost £50/60m and has scored 89 goals in nine years and we still can’t get him out of the club,’ Neville said.

‘I don’t think we are being hard enough. The failing of the football and recruitment department is absolutely incredible. 

‘The reality is there is no way he should be leading the line in any competition. 

‘They have the young lad Hojlund who has real promise but they need experience up alongside him. 

‘If he came into United and his partner was Cole, Yorke or Cantona you would see a sensation as the pressure would be off him. I feel for him a bit.’