Anthony Martial might have fallen behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the Manchester United pecking order, but the Frenchman can’t help but be impressed by his fellow striker.

Since arriving at Old Trafford, Ibrahimovic has bagged 16 goals in 25 games, all at the ripe old age of 35.

Meanwhile, Martial has hit the back of the net just four times as he struggles for starts under new boss Jose Mourinho.

But the 21-year-old is adamant Ibrahimovic’s presence is good thing for him and fellow youngsters Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard.

“He is a top player and we can’t help but learn from just being alongside him, playing and training with him, seeing what he is doing now and what he has done in the past,” said Martial, with Ibrahimovic grabbing both United goals in a 2-0 win at West Brom last time out.

“In spite of his age, he has been a tremendous help to our side. He is doing loads for us.

“Let’s hope his form can continue because that is going to help us to climb the table, which is our goal.

“We have a lot of experience in the squad and, together, we have to show what we can do to progress.

“We are a few points behind the top four at the moment, which we have got to make up, but it is down to us to maintain our good form and turn it into even more victories.

“We have to take each game as it comes, but if we can continue playing the way we are and add a few more goals, then who knows what we can achieve in terms of trophies this season.”

Confidence is flowing at the Riverside Stadium and Middlesbrough midfielder Adam Forshaw is keen to maintain the momentum over the festive period.

Boro halted a run of two consecutive Premier League defeats in style last time out as Swansea City were brushed aside 3-0.

Alvaro Negredo netted twice, once from the penalty spot after Forshaw was fouled by Jordi Amat, before Marten de Roon added a third.

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That leaves the Teessiders 14^th in the table, four points clear of relegation, and while Forshaw is adamant there’s still room for improvement, he is eagerly anticipating a Boxing Day clash with Burnley at Turf Moor.

“The team is gelling really well and we’ve got a bit of confidence,” explained the 25-year-old. “If you’re surrounded by good players then it makes your job easier and on the whole we’ve been playing really well this season.

“It was a massive win [against Swansea] – they all are. We didn’t play the best football, to put it nicely, but three points is three points.

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be confident for Boxing Day. It was a big win and we’ve come out of it with a clean sheet and three goals.

“We want to improve on the performance but we’ll take that confidence into Boxing Day. We’ve had a little bit of break and plenty of time to work on a few things, so we’ll be ready.”

Andre Gray insists it is just a matter of time before the goals start flowing again for the Burnley front man.

Top scorer in the Championship last season as the Clarets won promotion back to the top flight, Gray has only scored once in the Premier League so far this season.

That came all the way back in August against Liverpool and a ten-match goalless streak has followed for the 25-year-old.

But the former Brentford striker is not going to panic any time soon, confident that the floodgates will open.

“It happened at Brentford, it took me a while to settle in the Championship and my second season was at Burnley and we got promoted to the Premier League,” he said.

“If I can do anything like that then it will be great. I’m getting closer and I could have scored at Tottenham.

(Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

“I don’t really get myself too down about that sort of stuff, I’ve come a long way in a short space of time.

“I know the goals will come, I’ve just got to keep doing the right of things on and off the pitch.

“Chances are going to be harder to come by. It’s difficult, it was never going to be easier, but I feel like I’m growing in every game and I’ve come a long way in the last few years so I’ve got look at it from that point of view and I’m still learning.”

Everton have been slipping down the Premier League table in recent weeks, but Seamus Coleman insists there is no need to hit the panic button just yet.

The Toffees have won just two of their last 12 Premier League games and currently sit ninth in the table.

Ronald Koeman’s side are one place higher than they were at the same stage last season when Roberto Martinez was in charge but, after 17 games, have the same number of points with 23.

The latest outing saw Everton suffer last-gasp heartbreak against arch-rivals Liverpool, but right-back Coleman is hopeful good times are right around the corner.

“Obviously with the new manager  it is going to take time and it is going to take a couple of windows before he gets what he really wants but in terms of what he wants on the pitch, it is a high pressing game, it is getting stuck into people and it’s something we’ve done in the last couple of games,” the 28-year-old Republic of Ireland international said.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 19: Seamus Coleman of Everton (C) scores his sides first goal via a header during the Premier League match between Everton and Swansea City at Goodison Park on November 19, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

“And so the last couple of games have given me confidence in terms of how we approach games and it’s the Premier League, you cannot not work hard, so if we can do that over the 90 minutes hopefully our results will pick up.

“I think we’ve realised that we haven’t been putting a shift in the way we should have. I think we’ve all taken that on board and it’s in my personality to try and lead and get involved as much as I can and trying to do the right things.

“Hopefully seven, eight or nine of us can do that and it can get us the results because that’s what we really need at this time.

“We all know our job, we all know what we are doing and you can trust each other that if you go in tight, someone else is staying with the runners and vice versa.

“It’s important and in the last couple of games – I know the derby was a massive defeat and it hurt us – I think that the effort was there from the lads.

“I know the second half was a little bit disappointing but the effort was there and we need to bring that into the games coming up over Christmas because we need to start winning games.”

Leicester City captain Wes Morgan has revealed that Jamie Vardy helped inspire the Foxes’ turnaround despite being sent off in their match against Stoke City.

Vardy was shown a red card by referee Craig Pawson in the 28th minute of the Premier League clash and his side were soon 2-0 down at the bet365 Stadium.

But half-time gave the Premier League champions a chance to regroup and they launched a stunning comeback in the second half as Leonardo Ulloa and Daniel Amartey goals earned them a point.

Morgan explained that the team used the break to regather their thoughts and, thanks to some wise words from striker Vardy, managed to find positives in their first-half display.

“Vardy was in there and he said his bits and pieces and encouraged the boys and told them to keep going and that we could get something out of this game,” Morgan said.

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

“A lot of positives were said at half-time. We’d gone in 2-0 down but we felt like we shouldn’t have and the boys wanted to remain positive.

“We felt that one goal could change it and that is how it was. I thought it was just a positive performance. We showed a lot of spirit and heart and we need to show more of that going forward.

“It showed great team spirit and character, the boys didn’t give up.”

Mousa Dembele believes Harry Winks will become a major component of the Spurs team in the future if he continues to progress at his current rate.

The 22-year-old midfielder, who is from nearby Hemel Hempstead, made three substitute Europa League appearances last year but was given his second Premier League start against Burnley.

He scored on his league debut against West Ham before helping Tottenham to a 2-1 victory over the Clarets at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Winks has also made his first two Champions League appearances this season as well as earning an England under-21 call up.

(Photo by Kieran Galvin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

And Dembele knows the whole squad are rooting for the youngster to become a big success at the club which the Belgian has been part of since 2012.

“I think he did very well again in the Burnley match,” he said.

“Last year, even though he didn’t play too much, we saw that he had a lot of potential and I’m glad for him that he’s been getting some opportunities and his ability is coming out on the pitch now.

“He’s making progress as a young player but he’s a good guy as well so everybody appreciates him and wants him to succeed.”

Former midfielder Pat Nevin is confident that Michy Batshuayi has the ability to cover the absence of the in-form Diego Costa at Chelsea.

Costa has already scored 13 goals for the Premier League leaders this season, more than anyone else in the league, but is suspended for Chelsea’ Boxing Day fixture against Bournemouth.

Batshuayi, 23, is the most likely man to step into the breach on Monday having been bought from Marseille for a fee thought to be around £33m.

The Belgian international has had limited opportunities at Chelsea so far but Nevin is confident a full match to show his ability will be the perfect chance for the young striker.

(Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

“Who will start up front for Chelsea against this new central partnership will be a topic of feverish discussion this week, with Michy Batshuayi the clear favourite to get the nod.

“He certainly needs a chance to play in our first team at match pace for 90 minutes, to show everyone why we spent the money on him and why we believe in his talent.

“Having watched him for a season or two before he arrived, I am an unashamed fan of the Belgian but it is so hard to break in ahead of Diego and it is difficult sometimes not to try too hard when you get a fleeting opportunity.

“Batshuayi can and will be a class act in the end, but the temptation is always to compare him with Diego and that is tough.”

Jonathan Walters may not be on the same level as the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri and Wilfried Bony, but he should start every game for the Potters – according to fellow attacker Bojan.

The Irishman joined Stoke from Ipswich Town in 2010, playing a key role as the Potters reached the 2011 FA Cup final under Tony Pulis.

The striker has a reputation for being a hard-worker and for making up in work ethic what he lacks in quality.

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However, the 33-year-old is Stoke’s leading goal scorer in the Premier League era with 40, and Bojan believes he is a vital part of Mark Hughes’ squad – even if he often has to make do with minutes from the bench.

“Jonny Walters is one player who has to play every game. He always gives 100 per cent, he fights for every ball and he makes the runs which are good for him but that also make important space for us behind for the rest of us. He is a very good character,” he said.

“For me, he has to play. Of course he has scored many goals for Stoke City but I understand fans want strikers to score a goal in every game.

“It’s not just about goals, but the work that he does is very good and very important.”

Fernando is urging his Manchester City teammates not to ease off amidst the festive cheer, insisting the next two months could define their season.

Last Sunday’s come-from-behind victory over Arsenal saw City record their 11^th league win of the season and moved them onto 36 points, enough for third spot at Christmas.

Liverpool are a point better off while leaders Chelsea have accumulated 43 points, helped by 11 straight wins on the spin.

Fernando and the Citizens now face a run of four games in 11 days, with a Boxing Day trip to Hull City first up before games against Liverpool and Burnley and then an FA Cup third round clash with West Ham.

(Photo credit ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

And after the team came strong in the second half against Arsenal to win at the weekend, Fernando is after more of the same for the upcoming busy spell.

“We know that our calendar is very busy at the end of the year, but it is the most important period of the season,” he said.

“December and January are vital. We have to keep ourselves near the top of the table to be ready when it comes close to the end of the season.

“We have to repeat what we did in the second half against Arsenal. Aggression and pressing.

“We did not let Arsenal breathe in the second half. If we do this, I am sure we will win.”

A strong defence will be key for Swansea City if they are to get themselves out of the Premier League drop zone, according to midfielder Leroy Fer.

The Dutchman’s side have lost their last two, conceding three in each game against Middlesbrough and West Brom, and Fer wants the Swans to tighten up at the back, or face the prospect of life back in the Championship.

Bob Bradley’s side have been enjoying their home comforts of late, with wins against fellow strugglers Crystal Palace and Sunderland, and with Swansea seeing out 2016 with consecutive home games, Fer is keen to make the most of the Liberty Stadium fixtures.

“We have to do better defensively,” Fer said. “We know it has to be better so we have to work on it and try to improve it.

“We have done well at home recently, winning against Crystal Palace and then Sunderland.

“The two games we have next are going to be vital, and now we have to try to win those.

“If we are going to do it, we have to play our football. That’s what we are good at – playing good football with lots of possession. That’s what we have to try to do again now.”