Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is hopeful Anthony Martial will return within the next fortnight as he "can make the difference" in the team.
Martial has only played in four of United's 16 games this season and has missed 12 weeks of the season through hamstring, Achilles and back injuries.
Ten Hag clarified Martial has started rehabilitation work outside but was unable to provide a timeframe on the Frenchman's possible return.
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"I hope," Ten Hag said of Martial possibly returning within the next fortnight. "He's making progress, he's outside, he's working there, he's on the pitch and we're waiting for his step back in team training.
"He had a setback as he fell out against Everton with his back. He's had some injuries, it's really frustrating for us but also for him. We've seen him play well in pre-season.
"He's had less minutes but he's scored already three goals. Against Everton, he had an important role with the first goal, his assist for Antony.
"It would be good to have him back because he can make the difference and score goals, but also linking up he's really important and his pressing is really good."
In the four games Martial has appeared in this season, he has either scored or assisted a goal but the 26-year-old has only started once in the Premier League in the last year.
United have five more matches before the domestic season is halted for the World Cup and Martial has not played for France since September 2021.
With Cristiano Ronaldo out of contract in the summer and Martial brittle, United are expected to move for a striker next year but Ten Hag was reluctant to look that far ahead. "I think at this moment we're not focusing on that.
"At this moment we're working to develop our team, develop our attacking department, our attacking game. We have strikers and we have good ones, we're working to progress on that."
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