Manchester United star Daley Blind expects Anthony Martial to become a 'great striker'

Manchester United defender Daley Blind thinks teammate Anthony Martial will become a "great striker". The 20-year-old Frenchman joined the Premier League club during the 2015 summer transfer window and Blind thinks he has all of the necessary qualities to become one of the best players in the modern game.

United have struggled to score goals this season under their beleaguered manager, Louis van Gaal, but Martial has still been one of their leading lights. The youngster has impressed his teammate with his athleticism and calm finishing in front of goal.

"He is a big talent, he is still young and we cannot forget that. But you can see on the training pitch and even in the matches already how much quality he has," Blind told the United website. "If he is working that hard like he is now, improving and improving each week, then he can become a really great striker. He is very quick of course, he is strong and I think he is really calm in front of the goal. He has everything needed to become a great striker."

Blind also revealed Martial has become a popular member of the United squad, despite the fact he is yet to master the language. "Now he is evolving and performing in the training sessions, working hard on and off the pitch with his languages and personality, he is coming along really well. He is a bit quiet, he is still young, but he is always in for a joke and he's a good lad," the United defender said.

Blind's thoughts were recently echoed by former United striker Dwight Yorke, who believes Martial has a bright future at Old Trafford. He said: "Martial is a young player and you can see the potential in him. In his first season, he has come to United under pressure, as they are already not doing great. But I think he has done a tremendous job so far."