van Gaal Offers Update After Man Utd Dealt Fresh Injury Blow Ahead Of Arsenal Game

Louis van Gaal has offered an update on Anthony Martial after the striker was forced to pull out of Manchester United’s Europa League clash with Midtjylland last night.

Martial was due to start up front during United’s last-32 second leg with the Danish champions at Old Trafford but limped down the tunnel after feeling discomfort during the warm up and was replaced in the starting eleven by youngster Marcus Rashford.

Speaking after United’s 5-1 victory, which saw them book their place in the last-16 draw with a 6-3 aggregate win, boss van Gaal has given ManUtd.com an update on Martial’s situation.

The Dutchman confirmed the 20-year-old hasn’t suffered any serious injury but simply decided to withdraw himself from the game after feeling tightness in his hamstring and the boss is confident the injury shouldn’t keep Martial out for too long.

van Gaal told the clubs website:

“It should be his first muscle injury [since arriving at the club],but he is smart and wise to step out. It is not a rupture or anything like that. A tight hamstring. I don’t think it is very heavy.”

“Anthony can be tired. He’s only 20 and he’s played all the matches so it’s not so remarkable. He stepped down himself and that I like very much.

“I have already explained to you the only muscle injury we have is Marouane Fellaini. That we know already when he played so many matches in a row. It’s always like that when you don’t have other players and it’s difficult to change or rotate. So the next muscle injury would be [expected to be] Martial but I don’t think he has a muscle injury. He is very intelligent – he steps down when his hamstring is tight.

“You have to cope with that, it’s difficult also for the team because, after David De Gea, now Martial, and Martial and De Gea have played very good seasons, I think, and they have to be replaced.”

Obviously United fans will be relieved to hear that Martial’s injury isn’t thought to be a serious one but with just two days before the Red Devils entertain Arsenal at Old Trafford, the French hitman is still going to be a major doubt for that game.

With Wayne Rooney out with a knee injury, if Martial is ruled out, van Gaal could be tempted to stick with Marcus Rashford against the Gunners after the youngster capped his first team debut with a superb two-goal display last night.

Martial’s injury is the latest in a long list of blows for United as they go in to the weekend’s action with David De Gea, Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling, Wayne Rooney, Phil Jones, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Guillermo Varela, Ashley Young, Marouane Fellaini and Bastian Schweinsteiger all also on the treatment table.