'A complete and utter waste of time' - Manchester United striker Anthony Martial SAVAGED by Simon Jordan in brutal takedown

Martial picked up a groin injury earlier this month and his subsequent surgery means he is out until April. That gives the Frenchman a matter of weeks to play again for the Red Devils before his contract expires. Now, ex-Palace owner Jordan has savaged his nine-year stay at Old Trafford.

“I look at him as a complete and utter waste of time for Manchester United," Jordan said on talkSPORT.

The station's chief football correspondent, Alex Crooks, also thinks Martial may have played his last game for the club.

“We told you two or three weeks ago that he has no intention of walking out on that big money contract because he knows he won’t get that money anywhere else," Crooks added. “There have been fanciful links with Karim Benzema, I can tell you that definitely isn’t going to happen.

"In fact it’s unlikely that Manchester United make any significant signings this window despite the fact Martial’s absence does leave them short up front. I think Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s plan is to take stock during this window and then hit it quite hard during the summer.”

Martial joined United in 2015 from Monaco for an initial £36 million but with add-ons that has risen to £57m. Despite making him one of the most expensive teenage buys in footballing history, the now 28-year-old has scored 90 goals in 317 games and over the past four seasons he has scored a meagre 19 times.

While Martial enjoys a period of convalescence after his surgery, United are back in action on Sunday in round four of the FA Cup when they travel to League Two side Newport County. After that, they return to Premier League matters when they take on Wolves on February 1.