By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-01-24 15:15:07
Manchester United’s forward, Anthony Martial, will be sidelined until April after undergoing surgery for a groin injury. At 28 years old and with his contract set to end at the conclusion of the season, Martial has struggled to make an impact this campaign, scoring just two goals in 19 appearances.
Since a disappointing performance in a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth on December 9, Martial has been absent from manager Erik ten Hag’s lineup. The club confirmed that Martial will face a prolonged lay-off after his surgery. A statement from Manchester United said, “Manchester United striker Anthony Martial has completed successful surgery to address a groin complaint and will be out of action for about 10 weeks as he rehabilitates. We wish Anthony a speedy recovery and look forward to his return.”
Martial arrived at Manchester United from Monaco in 2015 and initially found success, but his career has since faltered. In his 317 appearances across all competitions, he has scored 90 goals. With Martial sidelined, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford are the only options for the central striker position in Ten Hag’s squad.
If Ten Hag wishes to strengthen his forward line during the January transfer window, he will need the approval of British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, who is set to take control of football operations as part of his minority ownership of the club.
The absence of Martial due to injury presents a challenge for Manchester United, leaving them with limited options in the striking department. The club and fans will be eagerly awaiting his recovery and return to the pitch in April.
Read the original article on The Guardian
