Erik ten Hag has confirmed Anthony Martial could feature against Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Sunday, October 16, but the forward is in a race for fitness.
Anthony Martial has impressed fans with almost every short cameo witnessed this season. So far, the Frenchman has contributed three goals and two assists in only four appearances across all competitions. Even more impressively, four contributions came when being used as a substitute.
Martial has only racked up 104 Premier League minutes this season. He has missed five games entirely through both a hamstring and Achilles injury and only featured as a second-half substitute in two matches.
Against Everton on Sunday, the 26-year-old was named in the starting eleven for the first time this season but was forced off in the 29th minute after picking up an injury in the squad’s warm-up pre-game. He was replaced by Cristiano Ronaldo.
In a pre-match press conference for Sunday’s Premier League clash, Ten Hag said: “Martial can be [fit to face Newcastle] but we have to wait and see how he does in the coming hours.”
🚨 The boss provided an update on @HarryMaguire93 and @AnthonyMartial in his #MUNNEW press conference. #MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 14, 2022
Erik ten Hag should utilise alternative strikers for Sunday’s match
Whilst fans are keen to see more of the striker under Ten Hag and with his new teammates, like Christian Eriksen and Antony, rushing Martial back to the pitch only seems to be further delaying his fitness.
Players like Marcus Rashford and Ronaldo are fully available and more than capable of providing goals up front. If Martial was benched throughout the entire Newcastle game, he may be more ready to face top four rivals Tottenham Hotspur midweek, or Chelsea next Saturday.
As United’s squad enter a hectic period of fixtures before players jet off to the World Cup, managing their fitness is crucial to ensure they had into the prolonged international break with a good run of form and results.
