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Manchester United have confirmed that Marcus Rashford is set to miss “a few games” after sustaining a groin injury during the club’s 2-0 victory over Everton at the weekend. Although the news will be disappointing for United fans, the club have said that the England forward will be back for the run-in.
The announcement from the club is relatively vague with no date set on when they expect or hope Rashford to return to first-team training. In his pre-match press conference ahead of United’s game with Sevilla on Thursday, Erik Ten Hag, was also unable to add any more information on Rashford’s injury return timetable. The Dutchman said:
“I can’t give more details of it because we don’t know. We have to see how it develops, the injury. Of course it’s a setback and he’s disappointed about it, but he’s not totally broke because he knows he will return quickly. He’s optimistic and he’s started straight on his recovery and his rehab so that helps to get back soon.”
A player impossible to replace
Rashford has been in scintillating form this season and has scored 20 goals in 28 matches since football resumed after the Winter World Cup and has 28 goals in all competitions so far this season. The next highest scorer for the club this season is Bruno Fernandes with ten goals so to say Rashford will be missed by Ten Hag is an understatement to say the least.
To make matters worse, the man who would be first in line to replace Rashford in United’s starting lineup, Alejandro Garnacho, is also injured. The Argentinian picked up an injury in United’s 0-0 draw with Southampton last month and he is in a race against time to play again this season.
The only crumb of comfort for the Red Devils is the fact that Rashford’s injury has coincided with the return of Anthony Martial. The Frenchman has missed large portions of the season with various injury problems but looks ready again to play first-team football from the start.
Marcus Rashford only missing ‘a few games’ is as much of a blow as it is good news for United.
Both UEL quarter-final legs vs Sevilla, a Premier League away game and the FA Cup semi-final vs Brighton in the next 11 days.
Anthony Martial, it’s time to step up.
— Alex Turk (@AlexCTurk) April 12, 2023
Martial scored from the bench against Everton at the weekend and Ten Hag has admitted that he is banking on him from here on out after nursing him back slowly from his most recent injury problem. The United boss said:
“Martial is ready to start. I think already against Everton he was ready to start a game but the frontline against Brentford did well and we decided to continue that against Everton and they did again very well. The advantage was also we can bring Anthony Martial slowly back in the team, give him minutes, get him used to the game at the highest level, to high intensity.”
Goals needed from elsewhere
Regardless of how Martial slots back into the starting lineup, United certainly need other plays to step up in Rashford’s absence. Wout Weghorst, who was brought to the club in January to play as the central striker for the remainder of the season, has only two goals for the club so far.
Meanwhile, £80m man Antony hasn’t scored a goal in the Premier League since the World Cup and Ten Hag has admitted that he wants more from the Brazilian.
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