A year ago Manchester United appeared to have struck upon a front three that could strike terror into the Premier League.
In the post-lockdown finale to the 2019/20 season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side was a free-flowing team, and the pace and precision of Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, and Anthony Martial had supporters' purring.
But football can be an illusion at times and it's not inconceivable that 2021/22 will begin with none of Rashford, Greenwood or Martial in United's best side.
Rashford played through the pain barrier last season as he battled shoulder and ankle problems, but he still produced figures that would suggest another impressive season, even if he ended the campaign below his best form.
That opened the door for Paul Pogba to shine in a left-wing role and after dazzling for France in Euro 2020 United will want to continue to get the best out of him in Solskjaer's set-up.
Greenwood began last season slowly but ended it impressively, but his right-wing role will be challenged by the arrival of £72.9million signing Jadon Sancho, who will surely begin the campaign in that position while the 19-year-old plays second fiddle or looks for games through the middle.
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Then there is Martial. He lost his place to Edinson Cavani last season and the contrast between United's No. 9 and No. 7 was stark. United looked a better, more energetic side with Cavani leading the line, even though the Uruguayan turned 34 in February. His decision to sign a one-year contract extension was a massive boost to United, who are still in the market for a striker anyway, either this summer or, more likely, in a year's time.
At that point, Martial had scored just twice in 19 club appearances and both of those goals came late on in the 9-0 win against Southampton when the Saints defense were demoralized and defeated.
That's not good enough and the pressure is on Martial this season. It feels like this is a year that will make or break his Old Trafford career. At 25 he should be producing consistently now but that hasn't happened. It felt last season like Solskjaer's faith in him as an elite-level center-forward was beginning to wane.
If United do manage to sign a striker of the calibre of Harry Kane or Erling Haaland in the next 12 months then it leaves Martial on the periphery. He could return to a left-wing role but in the shape of Rashford and Pogba there is serious competition there. That's also a role Sancho can play.
Martial's injury has made his something of the forgotten man of the United attack, but this season he needs to finally nail down a consistent role in this team or he could find his own future is very much up for debate.
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