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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Samuel Luckhurst

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag gives update on Anthony Martial injury situation

Erik ten Hag is unsure if Anthony Martial will play again for Manchester United before the March international fortnight.

United have up to six fixtures before the spring internationals and Martial has missed 26 of United's 40 games this season through five separate injuries.

The 27-year-old has been sidelined for four weeks with a hip injury but has started individual training sessions and did some ball work during last week's open session at Carrington.

Also read: Two United players doubts for West Ham tie

However, Martial has not started for United since the Manchester derby on January 14 and he last completed 90 minutes in a Premier League match in January 2021.

United are aiming to sell Martial in the summer to partly finance a move for a new goalscorer and Ten Hag clarified "except Anthony Martial, the availability from all the players is there".

"I hope but I don’t give an expectation about that," Ten Hag said of a possible Martial return within the next two-and-a-half weeks. "Let him do his work. Several times now then he drops back too quickly. Give him the time.

"Of course, I hope he’s on board but at this moment we’re doing really well with this set-up. When he is available then we have an extra option and a good option so give him time.

"When he’s back we’ll be happy because we will have quality extra option, hopefully for the rest of the season."

Ten Hag suggested Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford would start against West Ham in spite of their recent workload. The pair started in all eight of United's fixtures in February and Rashford came off with an apparent ankle injury against Barcelona last week.

Fernandes has never missed a game for United through injury since he joined the club in January 2020. "He is fit," Ten Hag said of Rashford.

"Yeah, [Fernandes] does but he likes to play and he doesn’t want to miss anything."

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