Manchester United vs. Sunderland: Takeaways from Louis Van Gaal's Presser

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has backed striker Anthony Martial to cope with the pressure he is under ahead of the Red Devils' Premier League home clash with Sunderland on Saturday. 

The £36 million signing from Monaco has made an impressive start to his United career since his arrival at Old Trafford at the end of the summer transfer window.

The 19-year-old has scored three goals in his first two Premier League appearances, and Van Gaal believes Martial can cope with the added expectation placed on him after his flying start, per Joe Mewis in the Mirror: "It’s a bit of luck but the main thing is his quality. ... As a player, he has to cope with the pressure. From what we have seen up to now, he can do it."

Martial will surely start against the Black Cats at Old Trafford, having come off the bench to score again midweek in the Red Devils' League Cup win over Ipswich Town.

After United's decent start to the season, which has seen them pick up 13 points from six games—they currently lie second in the table—Van Gaal is insistent that they must maintain their consistency, per football writer Chris Winterburn:

Per Bleacher Report's Andy Brassell, it should be a routine three points for United against bottom-of-the-table Sunderland:

The north-east outfit have had a miserable start to the season, picking up just two points, but though Van Gaal said he had sympathy for Black Cats manager Dick Advocaat, it did not extend far, per United's Twitter feed:

Martial's terrific early form has further marginalised United youth product James Wilson, 19, who has yet to appear this season and has been linked with a loan move away from the club, per Sky Sports.

Van Gaal addressed the situation on Friday and said that he needs Wilson to remain at Old Trafford, per Mewis: "Yes [we need him], because of the situation we are in at this moment. We have three injured players. They are not in his position, but we have Martial and Rooney and maybe I can use Fellaini as a Plan B. Wilson is a natural successor of Martial."

Wilson is unlikely to be involved against Sunderland, while the Dutchman confirmed that defenders Marcos Rojo, Paddy McNair and Luke Shaw remain absent through injury, per United.

Should league leaders Manchester City slip up in the early Saturday match against Tottenham Hotspur, United could potentially leapfrog them into top spot with a victory against Sunderland. 

The corresponding fixture last season returned a 2-0 victory for United, and if Martial is on form again, a similar result likely awaits on Saturday.