Ten Hag already knows Man United's replacement for Ronaldo if he leaves

For a player that has seen more of the Carrington treatment table than the Old Trafford playing surface so far this season, Anthony Martial's numbers make impressive reading.

In just four appearances so far this season, the Manchester United striker has scored three goals and grabbed two assists. He has had a direct hand in a goal in every game that he has played in, which is made all the more impressive when you consider that he has only started once.

Unfortunately, every time he has attempted to increase his appearance tally this season he has been blocked by another unwanted injury. He has missed the last four games with a back problem, less than a month after overcoming an Achilles injury.

Martial was forced off with less than half an hour of United's 2-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park played earlier this month and has not featured since. That evening marked his first start of the season and his first in United colours in a competitive fixture for almost a year.

Despite being restricted to just 29 minutes worth of action against Everton, Martial did enough to leave his calling, once again giving Erik ten Hag food for thought, providing the assist for Antony's well-taken equaliser. That marked the Frenchman's fourth goal involvement in a week, following his two goals against Manchester City and his solitary hit in the 3-2 win over Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League in Cyprus, all of which came from the bench.

After impressing in his cameo roles in those two fixtures, Martial deserved his first start of the season against Everton. He was preferred up front to Cristiano Ronaldo, who came off the bench to replace him and score the winner, making it clear just how much Ten Hag values him.

After a failed loan spell at Sevilla last term, Martial returned to Old Trafford in the hope of the reset button on his career being pressed. Ten Hag wiped the slate clean for him, just as he did for several others, and offered him the chance to resurrect his United career in pre-season.

Martial was excellent during the tour of Thailand and Australia, scoring three goals in four games. Sandwiched between Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford in the front-three, it was a system that benefited both him and United. Ten Hag likes to operate with a quick and fluid front-three, meaning Martial, who is blessed with pace, is tailor-made for the role.

Had he not suffered a hamstring injury in the days leading up to the season opener against Brighton & Hove Albion, he would have started. United had been working on the front three all summer and it was obviously Ten Hag's plan to unleash the Frenchman, supported by Rashford and Sancho, against the Seagulls.

But despite Rashford being more effective from the left, he has often started through the middle in Martial's absence, such has been Ten Hag's reluctance to pick Ronaldo. Martial is better suited to the Dutchman's system than Ronaldo is, highlighted by his effectiveness when we has been fit this season.

Therefore, for all the talk about United possibly needing to dip into the transfer market to sign a new striker in January, in the event of Ronaldo leaving, such is the uncertainty surrounding his future, they already have the perfect replacement in Martial. It is, of course, fair to point out that he has struggled to consistently hit the heights in recent seasons, but his record under Ten Hag so far speaks for itself.

He appears perfect for the way the former Ajax boss wants United to play, and he has shown, albeit in limited flashes, what he could bring to the table when consistently fit and firing. Ronaldo has not been anywhere near as effective this season and it is becoming clearer that United are better without him.

Martial, now almost at the age of 27, is in a position where he needs to find his best form and make a name for himself at Old Trafford. Ten Hag has given him the platform to do that, such is the way he has performed when he has been available this season.

If Ronaldo goes in January, Martial is a solution, even if it is only until next summer, when United are then likely to try and source a long-term replacement for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.