ANTHONY MARTIAL has been told it is time for him to "take responsibility" to be available for Manchester United.
Manager Erik ten Hag has grown frustrated with the injury-prone French striker.
It has led him to start an exhaustive search to find a new frontman.
But in San Diego yesterday, ahead of Man Utd's friendly with Wrexham, he said it was up to Martial if he wanted to become the club’s regular number nine.
Ten Hag said: “Of course, when you have a player in your squad you have to expect he is available and players have to take responsibility.
“If not, I have to deal with the situation and we have shown we can be successful without. But it's easier when you have that striker in the team to win trophies.”
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Martial has returned to training in San Diego after injuring his hamstring at the end of last season.
Having been framed out on an unsuccessful loan to Sevilla in 2020-21 scoring just once in 12 games, he returned to Old Trafford and scored nine goals last season in 29 appearances.
But Ten Hag said that United were always better with him in the side and was sticking to in the United States.
He said: “We need a good squad and Anthony Martial is a brilliant football player so he will help us score goals.
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“There are other areas like pressing and combinations, he's a great player, we hope he's fit and he stays fit.”
More goals is what United need after finishing with the lowest total in the Premier League’s top six last season with 58.
Top scorer Marcus Rashford got a career best tally of 30 in all competitions last term.
Ten Hag did have some criticism for the England international during the season about him not being switched on for the full 90 minutes of a game.
That is something he believes needs to be addressed this coming campaign so he can match and even surpass those 30 goals.
He said: “When his attitude is right then he will do that, it's not easy and the team has to play and put him in the right position.
“When the team is playing well, when we keep the rules and principles in the way of play and Rashford puts himself in the right positions he will finish.
“He has great abilities in the box, he's clinical, he's ruthless, he scores goals, with his right, his left and his head.”
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United take on Wrexham in the early hours of tomorrow before playing Real Madrid the following day in Houston.
An Under-21 team will be fielded for the Wrexham game with the first-team flying out to face Los Blancos but Ten Hag will take charge of both matches.
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