Pranav Kannan
Injury Update: Erik ten Hag opens up on Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire ahead of Newcastle Untied clash
Speaking in a pre-match press conference ahead of the Premier League clash between Manchester United and Newcastle United as quoted by Manchester Evening News, Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag has offered an injury update on Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire with the former expected to be in contention for selection.
Martial, who has been very impactful for the Red Devils in the few games he has managed to play this season has started training normally for Erik ten Hag’s team. Despite having been absent for eight of the 12 games, he has been brilliant on the pitch whenever available.
The French striker had an excellent pre-season with Man United and was expected to be a star man to lead the Erik ten Hag project forward. However, he got injured right before the season started and has been having relapses ever since.
The other player who has missed Man United games ever since the international break is captain Harry Maguire. The English international is a polarizing figure at Old Trafford with his performances failing to inspire confidence.
Maguire had already lost his starting spot to Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez but an injury to the former would have seen the English centre-back come back into contention. However, the club captain got injured too.
Whilst Maguire’s return from injury is always a welcome boost, he is not expected to break into the starting line-up anytime soon and Erik ten Hag will be more concerned about Martial returning as things stand.
Ten Hag claimed that Martial is likely to be available for the Magpies clash but Maguire is set to take some more time.
“Anthony Martial can be but we have to wait to see how he develops in the coming hours. Harry Maguire will not make this [game] but it doesn’t take long, I think. I think next week he’ll be back in team training or over [the] next week.”
Donny van de Beek and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, both of whom who have been injured for quite some time now are not expected to return any time soon but it does not affect ten Hag’s plans with the duo not really first-choice for the Dutch tactician.
More Manchester United News
- Lack of Champions League football a hindrance for Manchester United in race for wantaway Kylian Mbappe
- Man United ‘leading the race’ to sign 23-year-old FC Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa next year
- Manchester United keeping tabs on Leicester City star James Maddison
It remains to be seen if Martial indeed makes it to the Newcastle clash. It is highly unlikely that he starts but having him as an option off the bench is always an added advantage.
