Share
Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has revealed that Anthony Martial will again be unavailable for Wednesday’s Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
The France international has struggled with a number of injury problems this season, spending time on the sidelines with hamstring, Achilles and back issues.
Martial is currently out with the back injury that he suffered against Everton on October 9, and he has not recovered in time for the clash with Antonio Conte’s side.
However, Christian Eriksen, who was missing against Newcastle United on Sunday due to illness, has a chance of returning to the fold against his former club.
“Anthony Martial is not available. [With Christian] Eriksen, we have to wait. He was just on the pitch. We have to see how he recovers from that and then we will make a decision tomorrow,” Ten Hag told reporters.
Ten Hag also opened up on Eriksen’s impact since his arrival, claiming that the Denmark international is “important” to the team’s style of football.
“I know him for a long time because everyone knows he can develop in Ajax, so I knew him from the Netherlands but also when we faced him. As a manager we faced him, so I know his capabilities and I was so happy that we could sign him. I think he proved from the first day how important he is to our game,” he said.
Harry Maguire, Donny van de Beek and Aaron Wan-Bissaka also remain on the sidelines through injury, but Ten Hag said that the trio are on the verge of returning to first-team training.
“They are making good progress, all, and they will all return in team training this week,” said the head coach.
Ten Hag also discussed the fitness of Axel Tuanzebe and Brandon Williams, with neither player featuring for the club during the 2022-23 campaign.
“I see good progress with Brandon Williams. He returned on the pitch, individual-based,” added the Dutchman.
“Axel is still in, working inside so he’s not back on the pitch. I think it will be difficult for Axel to return before Christmas. Brandon, [I’m] probably not talking about [him being] back in the squad for the games, but probably in the training for the team training.”
Man United will also be boosted by the return of Scott McTominay on Wednesday, with the Scotland international missing the goalless draw with Newcastle through suspension.
Martin Dubravka will be back in the squad against Spurs, meanwhile, with the second-choice goalkeeper unable to face his parent club at the weekend.
Man United are currently fifth in the Premier League table, boasting 16 points from their opening nine games, while Tottenham sit third, collecting 23 points from their first 10 matches of 2022-23.
