Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has warned his young, in-form strike force that he expects improvements – or will look for alternatives.
Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood are in the midst of impressive individual campaigns that have helped Solskjaer’s side amass a 14-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
On Tuesday, United visit Brighton with Rashford and Martial each on 19 goals in all competitions and poised to become United’s first 20-goal pairing since Dimitar Bernatov and Javier Hernandez hit that mark in 2010-11.
But Solskjaer insists that despite his team’s improvements, he will not hesitate to replace players who stagnate.
Solskjaer said: “You need competition for places at Man United.
“If you think you’ve got a divine right to be playing every game and are doing so well that we’re not going to look for players to replace you, you’re in the wrong place.
“I’ve been here myself for so many years as a striker and Teddy Sheringham comes in, Dwight Yorke comes in, Ruud van Nistelrooy comes in, Wayne Rooney comes in.
“We’ve always got to look at improving, and if they don’t improve, we might have to look somewhere else to get better because we have to be better. We’re too far away from where we need to be and want to be.”
The form of Martial and Rashford, in particular, has vindicated Solskjaer’s controversial decision last summer to allow Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez to leave the club without replacements being bought.
That left United’s striking responsibilities to three players with an average age of barely 21.
But Solskjaer insists that, much as he trusts them, he still wants to see continued improvements from the trio.
He said: “Romelu’s a very good goalscorer. He’ll score goals in any team that he plays in.
“It was time now for him to move on and pursue other dreams.
“For us as a group it was time to allow our forwards to feel that confidence and feel that demand of playing and being demanded to play every game, two, three, four, games, five, six, seven games on the bounce and perform.
“In the end that’s how you get to another level, a different level. I think all three that we have talked about have had a good development this season but they can be so much better.
“All three, I’m still waiting to see them blossom because there are parts of their game that they still need to improve on.
“I’ve always had faith in the forwards we have at the club – Mason, Marcus and Anthony.
“I think they’re boys who improve on trust, I think they’re good boys to talk to, discuss and sit with and they know that I trust them, they know I want the best for them, but they also know I’ve got to make decisions for the team and the club.
“They’ve all taken responsibility at different parts of the season and I’m delighted with all of them.
“It doesn’t give me any personal satisfaction because I made the decision that I thought was right for the club early on to give these players the opportunity, and Odion [Ighalo] has come in and helped us.”
One United youngster who appears to have no future at Old Trafford is Angel Gomes after contract talks with the 19-year-old proved inconclusive, leaving the winger as a free agent from Tuesday.
Solskjaer said: “Angel’s a top kid but of course there’s people around him that advise him to do different things.”
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