Anthony Martial has been given a new Manchester United challenge

Man Utd may be unable to extend Odion Ighalo's loan deal but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has faith in his No.9.

It feels like Anthony Martial has long needed to prove a point to his detractors.

Words like 'potential' and 'hype' have been thrown around in relation to the forward for many a year, but he's almost five years into his Manchester United career now. Only Wayne Rooney has contributed more goals and assists to United than Martial in the post Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has successfully re-energised Martial, helping the Frenchman rediscover his best form by reinstating him as the club's No.9 and it now looks like the striker is here to stay.

Solskjaer's decision to give Martial the centre-forward role back - and the shirt number to go with it - was not just designed as a confidence-booster. Technically and tactically it has worked too, with Martial on course for his best United season goals-wise before coronavirus hit. Martial and Marcus Rashford were dovetailing beautifully, both scoring more goals than ever before.

The statistics reflect the fact that Martial is producing better results than ever. He has averaged a goal or assist every 115 minutes across the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League so far this season, simply because he is taking more shots from inside the box. Bruno Fernandes' January arrival then improved the quality of service Martial was getting from his midfield. It's no surprise that he's thriving.

As Solskjaer said of Martial when his form was dipping a touch: "That's when you see the real player. That's when they have to go the extra mile, sacrifice you body for blocks or to sacrifice a broken nose to score a goal."

Martial responded.

Another January addition may also have helped spur Martial on to new levels, however, with Odion Ighalo providing good competition for the centre-forward spot. More often than not, Solskjaer used Ighalo as a Martial replacement, with Rashford unavailable due to a back injury and Mason Greenwood playing most of his football on the right flank.

How will Martial cope if, as expected, Ighalo is not with United for the resumption of the Premier League this season?

The club cannot sign another striker on loan until the summer transfer window opens, so the onus will be on Martial to pass this latest test. If not, talk of a new marquee striker signing will get louder.

It felt like Solskjaer's decision to sell Romelu Lukaku last summer was a risk not because Martial was being promoted, but simply because United's forward options looked thin. When Rashford got injured, those reserves were further depleted and it didn't help Martial. He needs good players around him.

The Premier League's Project Restart will throw up a thousand challenges to professionals that they haven't known before. Fitness levels, concentration and motivation will all be examined in a completely alien world, behind closed doors - and yet scrutinised by millions on television.

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Martial, in fairness, has always coped with pressure and has done well under three different managers at Old Trafford. He is an unflustered kind of character, but without Ighalo to drive him on and doubts over Rashford's fitness as the England international returns, perhaps the 24-year-old won't quite be at his razor-sharp best. You would forgive it, in many ways, due to the current circumstances.

But then again, Martial has answered almost every question thrown his way at Old Trafford. You suspect he will always have his critics, but if and when football resumes over the summer, expect Anthony Martial to grab the headlines again.