When Anthony Martial slotted in his sensational debut goal (followed by Martin Tyler’s equally sensational reaction) in a 3-1 win against Liverpool back in September, it became clear there was something special about this player.

Signed for £36m from French club Monaco, the fee - which could rise to as much as £58m - saw Martial become to world’s most expensive teenager.

Manchester United supporters, and Premier League fans alike, had reason to be skeptical after the transfer was announced. The youngster had only three first teams appearances at Lyon under his belt before his move to Monaco, where he subsequently scored a fairly average 11 goals in 29 appearances for the club.

Even manager Louis van Gaal admitted that paying £58m for a player who he saw as an investment was a risk.

Four goals in his first four games for the club turned heads, however, but it has been the young Frenchman’s impressive form throughout the season that has cemented his status as a teen sensation and future star.

Martial is United’s joint top scorer this season with 14 goals, his most recent effort in a 2-1 victory over Everton at Wembley secured Man United’s place in their first FA Cup final since 2007. With eight assists also to his name this year, it has been an impressive debut season in England for the France International.

All this too comes from United’s number nine playing out wide on the left for the majority of the season; a position the 20-year-old neither prefers, nor is accustomed to playing.

Man United fans have fallen in love with the former Lyon man, who has arguably been their stand out player in an overall disappointing campaign for the club, alongside goalkeeper David De Gea.

There hasn’t been too much to shout about up in the North West this year for the Red Devils, but the emergence of fresh faced Marcus Rashford late into the season and the relationship developed between the pair has been a definite highlight.

Considering the Frenchman’s ability and form, it is bewildering how Martial was not shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year award considering his contribution at Old Trafford this year.

It could be argued he may have been overlooked due to United’s poor season, however, that argument doesn’t hold up as Everton duo Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley were both nominated despite it being a season to forget at Goodison Park.

Don’t get me wrong, Dele Alli was a deserved winner, but the omission of the United youngster was baffling to say the least.

Fans, pundits and indeed Martial’s team-mates at Old Trafford have been quick the praise the forward’s ability and contribution to the side.

Juan Mata told MUTV: ”Since day one that I have trained with him, I have felt that this guy has something special. He has everything to succeed in football at this club. He is quick, has goals, he can beat players one on one and he understands football.”

Defender Chris Smalling was also quick to hail Martial, telling the Mirror: “No one is going to have a harder circumstance coming to Old Trafford with the pressure he had and he is performing brilliantly.

"Not many players come in with that amount of pressure and he was relatively unknown to the majority of us so to see him turn up week after week, he’s our main attacking threat and he’s been brilliant all season.”

There are striking similarities between the United striker and fellow countryman and former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry.

Also signed for a controversial fee of £11m, Henry moved from Martial’s former club Monaco first to Juventus but swiftly on to England, where Arsene Wenger moulded the the former winger into a out-and-out striker.

Henry likewise silenced the doubters over his transfer fee with an impressive goal return in his debut season at Highbury, and the the iconic forward then went on to win EURO 2000 with France following his first season in English football.

Martial too hopes to emulate Henry’s achievement by stealing the show in France this summer and bringing home his country’s first major trophy since the victory in Belgium and the Netherlands in 2000.

The pair's style of play is also oddly alike. Martial glides past defenders much like Henry did, and seemingly has an extra gear that most do not possess once past a player, often leaving them for dead as he sprints elegantly towards the goal.

Henry and Martial even grew up from the same town, Les Ulis, which is southwest of Paris. You cannot make it up.

Former United and France striker Louis Saha likened the two, as he told the Telegraph: “When you see him, he has as much quality as Thierry Henry at this age.”

With the remainder of the season and indeed the summer at Martial’s feet, he will hope to finish what's been a splendid year with an FA Cup medal, a fourth placed finish and a European Championship all under his belt.

United have certainly landed themselves one of the brightest young talents in world football. If utilised correctly, there is no doubt the young Frenchman can go on to become a Premier League sensation and indeed help guide the Red Devils back to their days of former glory.

It would almost be rude to say Anthony Martial could be as good as the great Thierry Henry. Who knows, he may even be better!

[ad_pod id='writeforus' align='center']