The Dutchman believes both players have big roles to play (Pictures: EPA / AFP)
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag believes Jadon Sancho can be a long-term option as a false nine while he hopes Anthony Martial will play a significant role this coming season.
The Red Devils are currently working hard to try and bring in a new striker and are targeting Atalanta youngster Rasmus Hojlund, with Ten Hag confirming that progress is being made.
In the meantime, Sancho has been deployed as a false nine in the absence of the injured Martial and gave an excellent display against Arsenal last time out, netting a brilliant goal.
‘He’s doing well, also in that role. I think Jadon is the best in central positions where he can have involvement,’ said Ten Hag of Sancho’s new position.
‘Also when he plays in wide areas, but you know when you’re playing with me wide areas in the right setting you also have the freedom – in the right setting, so get me right! – to be inside, in No.10 positions, in central positions.
‘But also when you are in such positions you have to make runs behind because that is very important to our way of playing that we have many players who run in behind.’
Martial, meanwhile, has been plagued by injuries recently and is still recovering from a hamstring tear he suffered in May, though he is now back in training and Ten Hag hopes to be able to call upon him more consistently in the future.
Martial is back in team training after his hamstring injury (Picture: Getty)
‘Today [Monday] he was in the team training so that is really hopeful,’ continued the Dutch coach.
‘Of course when you have a player in the squad you expect that he’s available, and then the players have to take responsibility to be available.
‘But when he’s not I have to deal with the situation and we show that we also then can be successful without that striker.
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‘Of course it’s more easy when you have a striker in your team because I think every club who wins big trophies has scoring abilities in their team.’
Asked if there have been any approaches for Martial and whether he features in Ten Hag’s plans going forward, he replied: ‘We need a good squad and Anthony Martial is a brilliant football player.
‘So he will help us. He scores goals and also in other areas of football, like pressing, possession and combinations, he’s a great player. Let’s hope he will be fit and he stays fit.’
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The Dutchman believes both players have big roles to play.
