Sunday 20 September 2015 18:42, UK
Anthony Martial's reputation continues to grow after a double at St Mary's helps Manchester United to a 3-2 win over Southampton.
Few knew about Anthony Martial when it was announced Manchester United were going to make him the most expensive teenager in history and sign him from Monaco. Wayne Rooney was even reported to have asked Morgan Schneiderlin what his fellow Frenchman was like.
But Martial's been busy showing off his full range of capabilities since then.
His Premier League debut was stunning. After stepping off the bench against Liverpool, a mazy dribble and dart into the box before a fine finish into the corner highlighted his close control and fearsome acceleration.
His first Premier League start at Southampton on Sunday revealed more.
With United trailing, the ball broke to Martial in the box. Rather than snap a left-foot shot at goal, the 19-year-old dragged the ball back onto his right, deceiving Virgil van Dijk, nudged it out from under his feet and rolled it into the net. "Wonderful composure," said Gary Neville on Sky Sports. "That bit of play is fantastic."
There was more to come. Martial pounced on a poorly weighted back-pass from Maya Yoshida and finished with clinical precision to put United ahead in the second-half. "He's given us so much confidence in this last week when he gets into this position," said Neville. "He's cold, unemotional, the keeper goes down early and he slots it past him. What a start to his Manchester United career."
Anthony Martial is only the third player to score in both of his first two Premier League appearances for Manchester United. Louis Saha and Federico Macheda were the others.
What a start to his Manchester united career.
However, there's a feeling this young France international can go on to eclipse what those two players achieved at Old Trafford.
"The only thing he's missing is experience - which he'll get," said Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness. "He's got real pace and he's got real power. He looks a man already.
"The only thing he needs to get is that bit of knowledge and then he'll be sniffing out chances that he isn't right now.
"He looks as if he's got a really cool and calculating character, as well. He doesn't get excited when he scores a goal. It's like 'that's what's expected of me and that's what I expected to do'. That will bode well going forward."
As Souness says, there is still room for improvement. While Luke Shaw's leg break grabbed the headlines after Manchester United's Champions League defeat to PSV, Martial's first start for the club on Tuesday night had been a frustrating one.
However, with more than two months until his 20th birthday, Martial will be forgiven a few inconsistent performances.
His only problem now is that every Premier League defender knows just what he can do…
