(Football news) Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed that forward Marcus Rashford will be out “for a few games” due to a muscle injury. The 25 year old was seen leaving the field holding his groin in the second half against Everton last Saturday and while there is no specific timeline for his return, Rashford is expected to feature again this season. The player has been in prolific form, scoring 28 times in 47 games so far in the league. He has scored 20 goals in 28 games since returning from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag 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.
“The frontline against Brentford [United beat Brentford 1-0 with Martial coming off the bench] did really well and then we decided to continue that against Everton and they did again very well. The advantage was also that we can bring Anthony Martial slowly back but in the team, give him minutes, get him used to the game at the highest level, to high intensity. But I think already against Everton he was ready to start a game.”
Manchester United will face Sevilla in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final on Thursday at Old Trafford and Anthony Martial is expected to feature in Rashford’s absence. The Frenchman scored his first goal since December after coming off the bench against Everton. Martial has had an injury plagued season and his future at Manchester United is uncertain. It will be interesting to see if Erik ten Hag deploys Martial on the wing with Weghorst operating as a number 9.
Erik ten Hag has also backed Brazilian forward Antony who has not scored in the Premier League since the World Cup. The Dutch manager said “He has to work on that. He is not scoring in the Premier League but scored a really important goal against Real Betis and the winner against Barcelona [both in the Europa League]. You cannot say they are not big games. He can also do it in the Premier League. I have no concerns. He has to step up. He likes challenges. When he is in the team, it is winning. That is why he plays for Brazil.”
