Erik ten Hag has confirmed Anthony Martial will miss ’s clash against Brighton on Sunday through injury, but the Red Devils boss refused to say if will start the game.
Martial, who impressed in , will be absent for United’s opening game of the new Premier League campaign at Old Trafford.
The 26-year-old spent time on loan at Sevilla last season but has worked his way into the new manager’s plans, however, he has picked up a hamstring issue.
When asked whether he will miss the meeting with Brighton, Ten Hag said: ‘Yes. It is always difficult to say with injuries [how long he will be out for]. I hope it is not for too long.’
The natural replacement for Martial in the team is Ronaldo, but he was one of the players to have left the Rayo Vallecano friendly before the end of the game – which Ten Hag labelled ‘unacceptable’.
The Dutchman was non-committal on the subject of Ronaldo starting this weekend, simply saying: ‘See on Sunday.’
Ten Hag did, however, insist that it isn’t right that the focus is on Ronaldo and not his other team-mates who also left the stadium early against Rayo Vallecano.
‘Those who left, there were many players who left but the spotlight is on Cristiano and that’s not right, so I think, do your research and make out that many players left,’ he said.
‘I’m really happy. I had told you before, we planned with him for the season. We have a top striker and I’m really happy he’s here, he’s in the squad and we stick to the plan.’
Ronaldo has pushed to leave United this summer as he targets another season of Champions League football but a move away hasn’t materialised.
In terms of his lack of options up front, Ten Hag added: ‘We said it before, in the depth of the squad, we’re still searching to strengthen the squad.’
‘That would be a good situation [to have transfer business done], but I have a squad and I’m happy with the squad, the current squad, they make good progress, I’m happy with the signings until now,’ he said.
‘We just don’t need any player, you need the right players and that’s the point, where we’re working all together.’
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