Erik ten Hag has remained tight-lipped on when Manchester United can expect to have the injured Marcus Rashford back in action and tipped Anthony Martial to step up to the plate.
The Red Devils officially confirmed fans' fears on Wednesday by announcing that Rashford, 25, would be out 'for a few games', leaving their hopes of a treble in doubt. United are still in the Europa League, playing Sevilla twice over the next nine days in the quarter-finals, before facing Brighton in an FA Cup semi-final the following Sunday.
Rashford has been far and away Ten Hag's most productive forward this season, scoring a personal best 28 goals which have played a large part in why the Red Devils boss has enjoyed such a promising first year in the Old Trafford hot seat. But now Ten Hag must deal without his star man following an injury against Everton, firstly for Thursday's first leg at home to Sevilla on Thursday.
Joined by David de Gea for the pre-match press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Ten Hag said: "It's a few games, so that's the statement. We can't give more details. We have to see how it develops, the injury." On the onus to get Rashford back as soon as possible, the Dutchman added: "We don't have to force things. We are careful of course."
Martial could be the man to fill in during Rashford's absence, having not started a match since January 6. "I think he [Martial] is ready to start - the front line did very well against Brentford and we picked the same against Everton," Ten Hag went on to say. "The advantage was we could bring Martial back slowly, giving him minutes, but I think already against Everton he was ready to start."
When Rashford came off during Saturday's win, Wout Weghorst entered in his place and led the line. After Martial put United 2-0 up with a goal 11 minutes into his return from the bench, the French striker then went out to the left flank where Jadon Sancho had started the match before switching to the right once Antony had been brought off on the hour mark.
Ten Hag is confident in his midfield setup to support the diminished attack, too, with Bruno Fernandes notably playing a deeper role on Saturday and Christian Eriksen making his first appearance since late January as a substitute. Casemiro will also now be available after serving a four-match suspension in domestic football, meaning that Ten Hag can revert to his preferred trio.
"I think the balance in the midfield was good with Casemiro, Eriksen and Bruno," Ten Hag explained. "Casemiro the balance player, the line-up player, Eriksen can support him but also go to the final part of the game, can create chances with key passes."
Ten Hag also provided updates on Luke Shaw and Alejandro Garnacho, who each remain out injured. "Both are not available [for tomorrow]," he revealed. "Definitely the injury of Garnacho is more severe, but I expect Luke Shaw back on shorter notice."
Ten Hag fumed over Rashford's injury after the defeat to Everton, blaming United's hectic schedule. "Once again it's due to the schedule, you can't play three games in six days. We have to protect our players," he told BT Sport post-match. "Everyone wants the best players on the pitch, everyone wants to see great entertaining football like today.
"But you need your best players. It's a win and we have to move on. "I'm happy when you're playing in April and you're playing on this level against an Everton who are hard to beat. We have seen it in the last weeks, it's a really strong team in survival mode."
Asked why he didn't substitute the 25-year-old earlier in the game, Ten Hag admitted: "I did have that consideration. But in that moment, you want Anthony Martial who is just coming back, you want to bring him back into routines and togetherness.
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"Because when they are together we have two goal scoring, clinical players who can finish games and that is what we need in the final stages of the season to be successful.
"The other thing, there was no indication in the last days or this game [of an injury]. If there was of course then I would have taken him off."
