Nemanja Matic has insisted that Anthony Martial's hat-trick against Sheffield United can provide a springboard for the forward to score even more goals for Manchester United.
Martial became the first United player since Robin van Persie in 2013 to net a treble in Wednesday's comfortable 3-0 Premier League victory over the Blades.
It was also the first senior hat-trick scored by the 24-year-old, who is now enjoying his best season yet in front of goal since joining the club five years ago.
United teammate Matic hopes that Martial can use the confidence-boosting display as a platform to push on.
"I think it was very important for him to score goals, for every striker it's important, for his confidence," he told MUTV.
"I'm happy that our strikers are in good condition, tonight Anthony was man of the match, every chance he had went in.
"Let's see in the future what he can do for us. But I'm happy for him. Congratulations to him."
Martial has 14 goals in the Premier League this term, now just five fewer than the division's leading goalscorer Jamie Vardy.
Daniel Lewis
