Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that Anthony Martial "is ready to start" for the Red Devils, with the Frenchman expected to replace Marcus Rashford in the team against Sevilla.
Rashford is facing 'a few games' out with the issue that he suffered during the latter stages of the Premier League contest against Everton on Saturday afternoon.
Martial has made a timely return to fitness, though, with the forward appearing off the bench in the team's last three Premier League matches after recovering from a hip issue.
The 27-year-old scored his seventh goal of the campaign as a late substitute against Everton last time out, and Ten Hag has said that the striker is now "ready to start".
"I think he is ready to start, but as I said, the front line did very well against Brentford and we picked the same against Everton," Ten Hag told reporters during his press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
© Reuters
"The advantage was we could bring Martial back slowly, giving him minutes, but I think already against Everton he was ready to start the game.
"The time he needs for a goal is less. When he's in the team, we play our best football and we have our best results as a team. I defend him because I point to the stats and see how he contributes."
Ten Hag also praised Marcel Sabitzer for his "fantastic" form since arriving on loan from Bayern Munich in January amid suggestions that the Austrian could move to the club on a permanent basis.
"He's doing fantastic. He's adjusted well to Man United and the Premier League. He is a great person and suits the dressing room well. He's an intelligent player and we're happy with his role at this moment," said the Dutchman.
Sabitzer has seemingly expressed a desire to move to Old Trafford on a permanent basis this summer, and he will be looking to start a fifth successive match for the club against Sevilla.
© Reuters
Ten Hag also defended Antony on Wednesday, with the Brazil international coming in for criticism for his inconsistent form during the 2022-23 campaign.
The big-money arrival from Ajax has scored seven goals and registered one assist in 33 appearances for the Red Devils in all competitions, but he has not netted in the league since September.
"Of course, we expect front-line players to be a threat but also have an effect in the final third. He has to work on that, but he's a young player," Ten Hag added when asked about the 23-year-old.
"He's scored in big games and if you can do it in such games, you can do it in Premier League games. We have to win games together and that is my experience with him. He's a fighter and he likes a challenge. When he plays, the team is winning and he's still a very young player, he can kill opponents."
As well as Rashford, Man United will be missing Luke Shaw, Alejandro Garnacho, Donny van de Beek and Tom Heaton through injury for the contest with Sevilla.
Matt Law
