Manchester United youngster Dan Gore was among a clutch of young Red Devils invited to take part in first-team training this week.
Boss Erik ten Hag invited the young attacking midfielder to train with his established stars ahead of Sunday’s clash with Southampton as the club’s injury concerns grow. Christian Eriksen, Donny van de Beek and Marcel Sabitzer could all be missing from the clash.
Gore was not alone in earning a promotion to first-team contention as he was joined by fellow academy graduates Sam Murray, Omari Forson, Marc Jurado. However, things might have been slightly more awkward for the 18-year-old having previously been involved in a spat with French forward Anthony Martial.
The two were involved in a furious exchange back in November with the young midfielder called up to training during the World Cup. At the time, Ten Hag had instructed his squad that challenges on first-team players were forbidden.
Gore did not heed that warning as he produced a strong tackle on Martial, leaving the Frenchman furious. The striker retaliated, leading to the pair needing to be pulled apart.
After tensions were reduced following an apology from Martial, relations are expected to have improved this time with the pair being reintroduced this week. The Frenchman has been out of action since mid-January with a hip injury but has returned to training and would have been working alongside Gore.
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Asked to explain Martial’s persistent fitness issues this season, Ten Hag replied: “Yeah, but I think all the time we had a good plan and it worked until now not always good. But he is on his way back, he’s back in training but we will be cautious, yeah.”
Ahead of the clash with Southampton, Martial had made 14 appearances for the Red Devils in all competitions this season, scoring six times. Former Red Devil Paul Parker had suggested that he could have potentially played his last game for the Red Devils.
He said: "I don't think that we will ever see Martial playing for Man United again. I don't think Erik ten Hag is that concerned about it because Martial doesn't fit into his way of playing.
“Also, he doesn't deserve to play again for Man Utd. He hasn't taken his chances and he is showing no consistency at all."
Gore, 18, has yet to make his first-team debut for the Red Devils having previously been limited to outings in both the Premier League 2 and the U18 Premier League. He also played a role in the R ed Devils claiming the FA Youth Cup against Nottingham Forest last term.
Taking to Instagram after that victory, he wrote: "FA youth cup champions!!! What an unbelievable night! So special to win it in front of the fans. Class of ‘22.”
