When can in-form Martial play a full match?

Our no.9 produced an excellent performance against Sevilla on Thursday and played a key role in creating Marcel Sabitzer’s opening goal, before registering an assist for the Austrian’s second. 

It was Martial’s first start since the Manchester derby on 14 January and, as such, he was substituted after 62 minutes of the Europa League quarter-final leg. 

Anthony clearly has an important role to play and especially while top scorer Marcus Rashford is out injured, yet Ten Hag is being careful with the striker’s load management at this stage. 

During a press conference to preview our next match against Nottingham Forest, the manager was asked if he has an idea when Martial could play a full match. 

“So maybe he can but it's a risk,” said the boss at Carrington. 

“And we can't take that risk in this moment because we don't have so many options in the frontline with Rashford injured, with Garnacho injured. 

“We don't have so many options there so we have to be careful and also from an individual perspective, we know that when there is a lot of load coming, he gets injured. 

“So we have to build it and especially when the games are coming quickly after each other, when the recovery time is less. We have to take that also in mind and manage that very carefully.”

In case you missed it, Ten Hag also reported it is too early to provide a diagnosis on the injuries sustained by Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez. 

However, the manager was optimistic that Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay might return in Sunday’s Premier League match at The City Ground.