It looks like Manchester United will be without Anthony Martial for the visit of Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
The French forward hasn’t been seen since going off with a groin injury at half-time in last month’s Champions League Round of 16 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Martial wasn’t present as the United squad arrived at the Lowry Hotel in Salford on Friday night so it looks likely that he’ll be focusing on a return for the away leg in Paris next Wednesday.
The news comes as a further boost for Southampton, as the 23-year-old is one of nine first-team players sidelined including Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera and Jesse Lingard.
Ralph Hasenhuttl also has attacking firepower missing for the eagerly-awaiting trip to Old Trafford; Danny Ings hasn’t featured for four weeks and Michael Obafemi suffered an injury in the win over Fulham in midweek.
Although Martial is likely to miss out, United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed in his press conference that Marcus Rashford should return to the hosts’ starting line-up:
“It’s the last session today but we’re not going take any risks,” he said. “Maybe Anthony, but it might just be a few more days before he’s ready, so probably the squad will look similar to what it did at Wednesday.”
One thing is for certain; the Saints will need to conjure up a special performance if they are to take a point or three back to the South coast this weekend, Martial or not.
