Anthony Martial is a clinical finisher who can "smell" a goal, according his former coach Claudio Ranieri.

Ranieri, who has Leicester City riding high in fourth in Premier League table, was in charge of AS Monaco when they signed Martial from Lyon for £3.5 million two years ago.

Martial has had an outstanding impact since joining United for an initial fee of £36 million on deadline day, scoring the important third goal in the 3-1 win over Liverpool and twice in Sunday's 3-2 win at Southampton.

Ranieri said: "The sporting director told me there was a good striker with Lyon. Every Saturday, I'd watch the Academy at Monaco and when we played Lyon three years ago he told me to watch him.

"I watched this guy and at the end I said he was very good. Then at the end of the season, the sporting director said 'Claudio, there's an opportunity to buy this guy. Take it. Go.'

"I didn't hesitate, I'd seen him play and knew he was something special. Every time he touched the ball, something special happened.

"Maybe he was not involved in the game then suddenly... whoosh, he'd come to life.

"He has that fantastic ability when he can smell a goal and then switches on at just the right moment -- that is Anthony.

"It's important for him to score as he cost a lot of money and the people expect goals from him."

Meanwhile, James Wilson scored one goal and made another on his first appearance of the season as Manchester United's Under-21 side beat their Everton counterparts 3-2.

The striker, was not even named on the bench at Southampton even though boss Louis van Gaal had no specialist strikers among his substitutes, continues to be linked with a loan move to a Championship club.