Manchester United attacking duo Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard could return early from injury to face Liverpool this weekend, according to reports. The pair came off injured in United’s 2-0 home defeat against PSG in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie last Tuesday.
United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had predicted his forwards would be sidelined for “two to three weeks”. However, The Mirror report the pair could make swifter returns to the side and play in the crunch clash against Liverpool on Sunday.
Martial is sidelined with a groin problem which forced him to be taken off at half-time against PSG. While Lingard suffered a hamstring problem that also saw him miss the second half. Both men will miss tonight’s FA Cup fifth round clash against holders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The injuries could allow out of sorts Alexis Sanchez and out of favour Romelu Lukaku to get a start – while Marcus Rashford could also shift wide.
Although Martial and Lingard will be out of tonight’s cup tie, Solskjaer will be desperate to have the pair fit for the Liverpool clash at Old Trafford. Manchester United are currently fourth on the Premier League table, one point above Chelsea and Arsenal – while rivals Liverpool are trailing champions Man City only on goal difference, but with a game in hand.
Old Trafford supporters would like nothing less than to ruin Liverpool’s chances of a first league title in 29 years. Manchester City do not play on the weekend, meaning a win for Jurgen Klopp’s men will restore their lead at the top.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had confirmed that Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard will miss out on Manchester United’s clashes with Chelsea and Liverpool due to injury sustained during the Champions League clash against PSG. The two Red Devils stars will miss out on some crucial matches in the weeks ahead.
One possible replacement named was 17-year-old striker Mason Greenwood but the youngster is also injured, preventing him from making his debut in their stead. “I think they’ll be out for two-to three weeks,” Solskjaer said of the two. “Then you’re looking at young players, Mason Greenwood, it’s your time to step in, and he’s injured unfortunately, out for a couple of weeks as well. Sometimes that’s how the luck goes but Mason will get his chance.”
Lingard was forced out of the 2-0 defeat to PSG late in the first half, replaced by a relatively ineffective Alexis Sanchez in stoppage time. Solskjaer himself said there was little he could do to help the struggling Chilean, who failed to make an impact in his appearance. Martial, meanwhile, was removed at halftime after carrying an injury through the first half, as Solskjaer was forced into making two changes.
Comments