Erik ten Hag gives encouraging update on two injured Man Utd stars & latest on Cristiano Ronaldo’s FA appeal

Erik ten Hag has said Anthony Martial could be available for Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Newcastle United on Sunday.

The forward came off in the first half of last weekend’s win over Everton due to a back injury and subsequently missed Thursday’s Europa League victory against Omonia Nicosia. The issue is Martial’s third injury of the campaign after he suffered from hamstring and Achilles problems in the first two months of the season.

But speaking in his pre-match press conference, Ten Hag revealed the forward may return in time for the encounter with Eddie Howe’s men. “Anthony Martial can be [available] but we have to wait [to see] how he develops in the coming hours,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Harry Maguire has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury, but Ten Hag has said the England international is expected to be back in training next week. “Harry Maguire will not make this, but doesn’t take long,” the Dutchman told reporters. “Maybe next week he will be back in the team training, or over the next week.”

In addition to Maguire and Martial, United will be without Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Donny van Beek, players Ten Hag described as being ‘longer-term’ absentees when speaking in midweek. Scott McTominay, who scored the winner on Thursday, will also miss the visit of Newcastle due to suspension, while Martin Dubravka is ineligible to face his parent club.

Another player who could soon be suspended is Cristiano Ronaldo. The striker is believed to have accepted The FA’s charge of improper conduct relating to an incident against Everton in April, but The Guardian have reported United are supporting the player in an attempt to ensure he won’t receive a multi-game ban.

Ten Hag seemed to imply on Wednesday that Ronaldo will fight the charge, and said: “We talked about that and he will not accept it.” Meanwhile, speaking after the win over Omonia, the former Ajax boss revealed he doesn’t know what will happen next and if Ronaldo could miss any of the club’s upcoming matches before the World Cup. “No, I don’t know when the defence will be. So we don’t have a timeline,” he said.

As for Newcastle, summer signing Alexander Isak is expected to miss out, along with Jonjo Shelvey, Matt Ritchie, Karl Darlow and Emil Krafth. The Magpies have won their last two matches, scoring a combined nine goals in the process, and are just a point behind United in the table.