Erik ten Hag has suggested that Anthony Martial will start for Manchester United against Sevilla in the place of Marcus Rashford.
United host Sevilla on Thursday night in the first-leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie, but they’ll be without star forward Rashford.
The England international limped off the pitch during the 2-0 win over Everton last Saturday and it was confirmed on Wednesday morning that the 25-year-old will miss the next few games with a muscle injury.
Having scored 28 goals so far this season he will be a huge miss for the Red Devils, with Ten Hag adding in his pre-match conference: ‘It’s a setback and he’s disappointed, but he’s not totally broke because he will return quickly.
‘He’s started his rehab and that helps to get back soon. I can’t give more details on it because we don’t know. We’ll have to see it how it develops.’
Rashford has been near undroppable all season and the question now turns as to who will replace him in United’s starting XI, with one of Wout Weghorst or Martial likely to be called in.
For much of the second-half of the season, Weghorst had started up top with Rashford and Antony on the wings but following a drop in form, the Dutch striker has been replaced by Jadon Sancho in recent weeks.
Martial meanwhile has been plagued by injury after injury this campaign though maintains a great goal to minute ratio with one strike every 114 minutes across all competetions.
This includes when he came off the bench to score the second goal against Everton and Ten Hag has now hinted that the 27-year-old could start against Sevilla – though he remains cautious over rushing his recovery.
‘We don’t have to force things. We are careful. The front line against Everton worked really well,’ the manager said.
‘I think he is ready to start, but as I said, the front line did very well against Brentford and we picked the same against Everton.
‘The advantage was we could bring Martial back slowly, giving him minutes, but I think already against Everton he was ready to start the game.’
‘The time he needs for a goal is less. When he’s in the team, we play our best football and we have our best results as a team. I defend him because I point to the stats and see how he contributes.’
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