Injury update: Martial pushing for final place
Anthony Martial is battling to make Manchester United’s Europa League final squad to face Villarreal next Wednesday in Gdansk.
Despite being omitted from France’s 26 players for the European Championships this summer because of his knee, the 25-year-old striker has not been ruled out by Reds boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the showpiece climax to our campaign in Poland.
It seems the striker himself won't give up the fight to be in contention for next week either.
“We have still got a little bit of hope for Anthony,” said Solskjaer, in his post-match press conference following our 1-1 draw with Fulham.
“We are hoping. He is working really hard. We are hoping he will be available for the final. He has worked really hard. He has been very thorough. Very enthusiastic. I can’t say that he won’t be fit for the final but, of course, he has been out for a long time. I am still hopeful."
It seems the striker himself won't give up the fight to be in contention for next week either.
“We have still got a little bit of hope for Anthony,” said Solskjaer, in his post-match press conference following our 1-1 draw with Fulham.
“We are hoping. He is working really hard. We are hoping he will be available for the final. He has worked really hard. He has been very thorough. Very enthusiastic. I can’t say that he won’t be fit for the final but, of course, he has been out for a long time. I am still hopeful."
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Martial injured his knee back in March, while on duty for France in a World Cup qualifier in Kazakhstan. He was replaced in the 59th minute of that match by Kylian Mbappe and the news after he returned to Manchester was bleak, with Solskjaer reporting that it was a “bad one” and that he could be out for the rest of the season.
But United's no.9, who last played for the Reds in the Emirates FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Leicester City a week before his injury for France, has recently been back in training.
But United's no.9, who last played for the Reds in the Emirates FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Leicester City a week before his injury for France, has recently been back in training.
As for the other players on the sidelines, the boss did not seem as hopeful for Harry Maguire’s chances of making the final. The skipper was still on crutches in the stands for the home game against Fulham, following the ankle ligament damage he suffered at Villa Park.
“Harry, we are working on. It doesn’t look great,” the manager admitted.
“Harry, we are working on. It doesn’t look great,” the manager admitted.
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United picked up two other problems in the 1-1 draw with the Cottagers.
“We have had a couple of players who have got knocks today, with Scott [McTominay] and Fred. So I will see how they are.
“Unfortunately Scott had to come off and Fred doesn’t look great when he is walking now. But we have got eight days [to the final] and hopefully everyone who was available today will be available."
“We have had a couple of players who have got knocks today, with Scott [McTominay] and Fred. So I will see how they are.
“Unfortunately Scott had to come off and Fred doesn’t look great when he is walking now. But we have got eight days [to the final] and hopefully everyone who was available today will be available."
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