Ten Hag admits it's 'DIFFICULT' to rely on Martial due to his fitness
Erik ten Hag admits it’s ‘DIFFICULT’ to rely on Anthony Martial due to his fitness issues – with the Man United star set for his first league start in two months on Sunday – but insists he wants to keep the forward because he’s a ‘great player’
- Anthony Martial is set for his first Premier League start since January on Sunday
- The Frenchman has been plagued with injury issues throughout the campaign
- Boss Erik ten Hag is a fan of the forward – but admits it’s ‘difficult’ to rely on him
Erik ten Hag wants injury-plagued Anthony Martial to remain a part of his Manchester United squad next season but admits his fitness problems make it difficult to rely on him.
The 27-year-old French striker is in line for what would be his first league start since mid-January at Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.
He has played just 77 minutes of league football in the three months since his last start, in the victory over Manchester City, and started just eight Premier League games in a little over two years.
Martial made an impressive return in Thursday’s Europa League draw with Sevilla and is likely to start again at the City Ground due to Marcus Rashford’s groin injury.
But while ten Hag was fully of praise for his abilities, he did admit it was difficult to know whether Martial could be depended upon to make a long-term impact with his United squad.
Anthony Martial will likely make his first league start since January against Nottingham Forest
Erik ten Hag said the French forward is a ‘great player’ but admitted he cannot be relied upon
‘Look it’s difficult to say because the history says different,’ said ten Hag.
‘I want him to be because I think he’s a great player – he has definitely the qualities to play in top football – and when he is fit, our team play better.
‘I think he can play across the front. For me he’s best at centre-forward, but he can play in the wide position as well.’
Martial is out of contract at the end of next season, although United have their customary option of adding a year to that deal and ten Hag has indicated his desire to keep him for at least next season.
‘From my point of view, yes,’ said ten Hag.
The Manchester United manager called upon Martial during his side’s 2-2 draw with Sevilla
Injuries to Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez mean that club captain Harry Maguire is almost certain to start today – for just the seventh time this season in the league.
Maguire is likely to take the on-field arm band from regular stand-in Bruno Fernandes against Forest, although ten Hag is looking for leadership from all over the field, especially after they surrendered a two-goal lead against Sevilla in midweek.
‘A team needs more leaders, you need a group of leaders,’ he said.
‘Those are two but we have more, Rapha Varane, Casemiro, David de Gea, also Licha Martinez developed really well in that perspective. We have more.
First-choice centre-back Lisandro Martinez was carried off on a stretcher because of an injury
‘They have to be aware that a game is over 95 or so minutes and, yes, we still have a way to go.
‘I am fully aware of it. The team has to know. We need leaders in such moments.
‘In many games I have seen it. We have that passion and desire to bring tough games over the line, but against Sevilla we didn’t.
‘We are human beings and can make mistakes, but we have to avoid it. Certain players have now to step up to take the team and control the standards.’
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