Anthony Martial felt he had done enough against Wigan Athletic to keep his place at home to Hull City and was left bitterly disappointed by Jose Mourinho’s decision to drop him as the forward’s troubled second season at Old Trafford took another turn for the worse.

Martial’s struggles to win over Mourinho come at a time when Manchester United’s hopes of finishing in the top four are being undermined by the most wasteful attack in the Premier League, with Wednesday’s goalless draw leaving the club four points adrift of Liverpool in fourth.

United denied that there was anything untoward behind Martial failing to appear for the warm-up against Hull and then being overlooked from the substitutes’ bench by Mourinho, who opted instead to introduce Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata, as the manager went in search of a winning goal.

But it is understood Martial was deeply frustrated to be left out after believing the manner in which he overcame a disappointing start in a central striking role against Wigan to set up United’s second and third goals after a move to a more familiar wide role on the left reflected well on his determination to impress.