"Unplayable" Martial message sent to Carrick after poor form

Manchester United legend Louis Saha believes forward Anthony Martial can help the struggling team get back to winning ways.

The Red Devils have won just one of their last seven Premier League games to slip to eighth in the table, 12 points behind leaders Chelsea.

United sacked manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following the team's 4-1 defeat to Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday, placing Michael Carrick in charge.

The ex-midfielder has been given the title of "caretaker manager" - with the club's hierarchy planning on appointing an interim boss until the end of the season.

Carrick's first Premier League game is against Chelsea on Sunday and Saha, who played for United between 2004 and 2008, has called on his former team-mate to play Martial.

Should Michael Carrick play Anthony Martial against Chelsea? Let us know in the comments below!

The Frenchman has scored just eight goals in all competitions since the start of 2020-21 campaign but managed 23 the previous term.

Despite his lack of form, Saha thinks Martial - alongside United's other attacking talents - can fire the failing team up the table.

"Because the Premier League is a marathon, I still believe they can pick up form and go on a run," Saha told The Metro.

"And when they do, they will be unstoppable because those front 4 players are one of the best in the Premier League. Of course, they will need to defend and ensure there's the right balance.

"But when they eventually find the right formula and things click - especially in their heads where at the minute there's too much over thinking - those players are unstoppable when they play naturally.

"On their game, no-one can touch that front four or five. Martial, when he's on top form, he is unplayable. Putting them all in the right position and conditions and they'll fly.

"But it comes back to humility and mindset. "I'm sure they're confident guys but they need to have the mindset of doing the things they don't like to work hard for the team."

Carrick's first game in charge of United was the 2-0 Champions League victory against Villarreal on Tuesday, with Martial starting on the left wing.

"When you have suffered results-wise and are not in good form, individually and as a team, it is not easy to come out and just let everything click," said Carrick after the game.

"In some ways it was the best way to win for me, that we had to show some character and fight."

On his first experience in management, Carrick added: "I have really enjoyed it, the whole thing, the support I have had.

"It has not been an easy couple of days for anyone at the club and that result almost feels like it is for Ole, I can't get away from that.

"We had a job to do and things needed to be taken care of. I was happy to do it and thankfully it all went to plan in the end."