Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is doubtful if Anthony Martial will be able to play for the first team before the current month’s international break.
The French striker has been injured five different times so far this season. In all competitions, he has already missed 28 games for the club.
Ten Hag has refused to offer a reasonable timeline for Martial’s return to the field due to his persistent hip injury. When asked yesterday if Martial would play for United before the March 20 international break, the Dutch tactician was unsure about his return.
As reported by the club’s official website, Ten Hag said:
“I hope but I won’t give a prospective [time], or an expectation about that. Let him do his work, as several times now, he has been back and he drops back too quickly.”
“We [have to] give him the time and I hope he is on board but first, in this moment, we are doing really well in this set-up. When he is available, we will have another option, a good option.”
“Let’s give him the time and we will see when he is back. Then we will be happy because we have a quality option extra for the rest of the season.”
Martial is unable to maintain his fitness for the club this season. When fit, the 27-year-old has excelled up front for United. In just 720 minutes of playtime, he has six goals and two assists.
Ten Hag acknowledged before the World Cup that Martial’s hold-up play makes him the ideal striker for him, but the Frenchman has struggled to avoid injury. Although the manager undoubtedly views him as a “very key” player, if he is unable to overcome his fitness issues, United may decide to sell him.
Ten Hag has now made the suggestion that Martial might not return again until April. It will be intriguing to watch to see if the Frenchman can finish the season injury-free.
If not, United might let Martial go this summer in order to raise money for a star striker. They have Goncalo Ramos and Victor Osimhen on their radar.
