
David Beckham has told struggling Memphis Depay that he must not treat Manchester United's No 7 shirt as a curse.

If Anthony Martial's injury rules him out, Depay is set to end his Premier League exile against Watford on Saturday after being dropped following the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal on October 4.

Martial hurt his foot playing for France at Wembley on Tuesday night. United are assessing the problem — and his wife Samantha deleted an Instagram post that claimed he was not injured.

Memphis Depay has not played for Manchester United in the league since October 4, but he may get his chance against Watford

Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward says Depay is third only to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in worldwide shirt sales

David Beckham, a famous United No 7 who returned to Old Trafford last weekend, says Depay shouldn't fear the famous shirt

Depay has spent the last four Premier League games watching on from the Manchester United bench, but he is now set to return

A recall at Vicarage Road would be a big chance for 21-year-old Depay to overcome recent criticisms from manager Louis van Gaal and show he has the potential to fill the No 7 jersey once worn by Beckham, George Best, Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo.

That challenge has proved too much for Angel Di Maria, Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia in recent times.

And Beckham, who wore the shirt with distinction between 1997 and 2003, says: 'The No 7 is special for Manchester United. I don't see it as an intimidation, I see it as an honour.

'When you get given the No 7 shirt, it doesn't matter who has worn it in the past or what that player has achieved. It's special and personally I don't think it comes with any pressure. It was always an inspiration for me. What has happened to the No 7 in the last couple of years doesn't interest me.'

Depay was hailed by Van Gaal as the best winger of his age group when he signed for United in a £25m deal from PSV last summer. But he has failed to cope and has been criticised by Van Gaal for not being a team player.

His only Premier League goal came in a 3-0 win against Sunderland and he hit rock bottom when substituted at half-time at The Emirates.

Beckham (second left) returned to Old Trafford on Saturday alongside some of his Class of '92 team-mates for a UNICEF charity game

Eric Cantona (pictured left with the Premier League trophy) is one of Man United's most famous No 7s, making almost 200 appearances

Louis van Gaal has openly criticised Depay, and will hope to see much more from him should he line up against Watford on Saturday

DEPAY'S UNITED STRUGGLES PSV Eindhoven (2014-15): 36 appearances in all competitions, 25 goals Manchester United (2015-16): 16 appearances in all competitions, four goals Advertisement

Beckham, who returned to Old Trafford last weekend to organise and play in a special charity match to raise money for UNICEF, revealed he was only given No 7 by default after starting his United career as a No 10. He added: 'I always wanted the No 7 shirt because of Bryan Robson and Eric Cantona, but I never thought I'd get it.

'Then the manager called me and said he'd signed Teddy Sheringham and he wanted No 10. There wasn't really a conversation to be honest! I didn't argue the fact.

'I've never seen it as my shirt. It was George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona. I just want whoever is No 7 to do well and keep Manchester United as one of the best clubs in the world, if not the best.'

Beckham says he has never seen the United No 7 as his shirt, and admits he originally started as No 10 until Teddy Sheringham's arrival

Depay has cut a frustrated figure for much of his time at Old Trafford, and has only appeared in eight Premier League matches so far

Depay could take the place of France international Anthony Martial on Saturday, after he left Wembley on crutches this week (right)

Martial left Wembley on crutches and with his left foot bandaged. France manager Didier Deschamps described it as 'a knock', but added: 'He is in quite a bit of pain.'

Wife Samantha first posted: 'Anthony is not injury thank you for your messages,' but later deleted that and changed it to: 'Thank you Manchester for support my man.'

Even if Martial has not suffered a break, bruising could persuade Van Gaal to rest the 19-year-old after a busy recent schedule for club and country.

BUT HOW DID OTHER PLAYERS WHO WORE MANCHESTER UNITED'S NO 7 FARE?

By Amy Seymour



Eric Cantona (1992-97)

Appearances: 185

Goals: 82

Cantona talked the talk and could certainly walk the walk. Well, it was more of a swagger but he backed it up with some beautiful goals after signing from Leeds. United were mid-table when the Frenchman arrived and by May their long, long wait for the title was over. He won four Premier Leagues at Old Trafford and two FA Cups (clinching the Double twice) and will forever be a hero to the red half of Manchester.

Cantona, pictured celebrating a goal against Sheffield Wednesday, became a legend at Old Trafford, scoring 82 goals in five years

David Beckham (1992-2003)

Appearances: 394

Goals: 85

Like Cantona, Beckham wasn't a man for a tap-in. He could bend a ball like no-one else, announced his arrival with a goal from the halfway line and, along with his pals from the Class of 92, helped himself to almost every medal in the game. Six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the 1999 Champions League isn't a bad haul. A former England captain, he's also his country's most-capped outfield player (115) and represented Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Old Trafford.

Beckham was part of the Class of '92 and wore the No 7 shirt with distinction between 1997 and 2003, scoring 85 goals in total

Cristiano Ronaldo (2003-09)

Appearances: 292

Goals: 118

Earned his move to United with a sizzling performance against them in a pre-season friendly for Sporting Lisbon and enjoyed six years developing into the world's greatest player under Sir Alex Ferguson. Before Real Madrid paid a then-world-record £80m to take him to the Bernabeu, he had won the Premier League three years in a row, the Champions League, one FA Cup, two League Cups and the Club World Cup. Ronaldo won his first World Player of the Year while at United having scored 42 goals in all competitions in 2007-8.

Cristiano Ronaldo, pictured having a shot at goal in May 2009, relished wearing the No 7 shirt for United under Sir Alex Ferguson

Michael Owen (2009-12)

Appearances: 52

Goals: 17

Owen didn't play as much as he would have liked during three injury-disrupted seasons but the former Liverpool man did enjoy a few highlights in the shirt of his first club's big rivals. A Premier League title and League Cup were added to his medal collection in 2010-11 and who can forget his winner against neighbours Manchester City, deep into injury-time just a few weeks into his first campaign. His initial deal was for two years and he signed on for a third but played just four times - scoring three goals - in that final season.

Michael Owen, pictured celebrating a goal against Bolton in September 2010, spent plenty of time on the bench and only started 18 times

Antonio Valencia (2009-)

Appearances: 235

Goals: 21

After being signed from Wigan Athletic on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee in January 2008, his energetic performances soon attracted attention from a range of high-profile clubs before he eventually signed for United in June 2009. He's a two-time Premier League champion and a League Cup winner who has recently been used as a right-back. Despite a host of high-profile new arrivals over the previous two summers, the versatile winger was last year handed a contract extension until 2018.

Antonio Valencia reverted to the No 25 after taking over the No 7 shirt for the 2012-13 season, and is still wearing it at Old Trafford now

Angel di Maria (2014-15)

Appearances: 32

Goals: 4

The Argentina winger arrived at Manchester United for £60m just after a star turn in Real Madrid's Champions League triumph. A good start saw him take the club's monthly award for October but he struggled from then. An attempted break-in while he was at home with his family did nothing to help him settle and was shipped off to PSG at the end of the season widely regarded as one of the worst signings in the club's history.

Angel di Maria spent just one torrid season wearing United's famous No 7 shirt before leaving to join PSG; he netted just four times

Bryan Robson (1981-1994)

Appearances: 461

Goals: 99

Fondly known as 'Captain Marvel' by United supporters - he became the longest-serving skipper in their history - Robson's apparent endless stamina and creative approach made him a notable natural talent. Robson moved to United for a then British record transfer fee of £1.5m in October 1981 and signed his much-anticipated contract only two days later. This record was not broken for six years, when Liverpool forked out £1.9m for Newcastle striker Peter Beardsley in 1987. Robson won two Premier Leagues, three FA Cups, a League Cup, Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

Bryan Robson celebrates Manchester United's 1990 FA Cup final victory with manager Sir Alex Ferguson; he is a United legend

George Best (1963-1974)

Appearances: 474

Goals: 181

'Boss, I think I’ve found you a genius,' were scout Bob Bishop's famous words to Sir Matt Busby after seeing George Best play for the first time. He wasn't wrong. THE original No 7, Best gave defenders nightmares, smiled as he did it and will be forever remembered as one of the greatest players to have graced a football pitch.