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Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag has offered a fitness update on forward Anthony Martial ahead of the clash versus Nottingham Forest.
The Red Devils travel to Nottingham to take on Steve Cooper’s side in the Premier League on Sunday.
The game comes just a few days after Man Utd drew 2-2 at home to Spanish side Sevilla in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie.
Man Utd boss offers Martial fitness update
Forward Anthony Martial started that encounter amid the absence of the injured Marcus Rashford, with youngster Alejandro Garnacho also out injured.
The France forward played 62 minutes before being substituted by Wout Weghorst, in what has been another injury-hit campaign for the latter. In fact, Martial has yet to complete 90 minutes in a single match all season from his 18 matches in all competitions.
The attacker has made 12 Premier League appearances, three in the League Cup, two in the Europa League and one in the FA Cup, but has yet to play a full match in any competition due to various injuries.
Discussing if Martial can complete 90 minutes soon, Ten Hag said, as quoted by the official Man Utd website: “So maybe he can, but it’s a risk 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 in [an] individual prospect, we know when there is a lot of load he gets injured.
“So we have to build it and, especially when the games are coming quick after each other, the recovery time is less. We have to take that also in mind and manage that very well and very carefully.”
Ten Hag positive about busy Man Utd schedule
Man Utd will be disappointed to have thrown away a two-goal lead against Sevilla, particularly given how they conceded two late goals, and how they both came from own goals. The result leaves the second leg all to play for, with the game scheduled for next Thursday in Spain.
Looking ahead to the weekend, however, Ten Hag is preparing his men for a tough trip to Forest, who are currently involved in a fierce relegation battle.
Cooper’s side sit 18th in the standings, and are just four points off rock-bottom Southampton. Man Utd, meanwhile, are in fourth place, level with Newcastle in third but behind the Magpies on goal difference.
The Red Devils will certainly be tired going into the match, an issue that Ten Has addressed, with his club having now played 20 more games than their upcoming opponents this season.
When asked if there is any concern about the team’s energy levels, Ten Hag replied: “Yes, but I see [it] also [as] an advantage. We had more games but we are also [in] more routines, so we like to play and that will give the energy.
“I think [there are] many, many advantages and we want to go for silverware and we have to give energy. If we want to go and make the season a success we have to give energy.”
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