Man Utd given team news boost with return of key player ahead of Liverpool game

Erik ten Hag had some good news for Manchester United supporters on Friday, with confirmation that Anthony Martial is back in training ahead of the clash with Liverpool.

The Red Devils host their fierce rivals on Monday night, with both sides yet to pick up a win from the opening two weekends of the Premier League season.

Martial and team-mate Victor Lindelof missed the defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford through injury, and while the latter remains out for the clash with Liverpool, there is a more optimistic update on Martial.

“Victor has not returned to the training pitch but the good news is that Anthony Martial is back in training with the team,” Ten Hag told United’s website.

Whether Martial is fit to start, however, is another matter. The Frenchman impressed in pre-season, netting in the first three warm-up games, but picked up a hamstring injury a week before the new season began, meaning the fitness built up ahead of the new campaign will have dissipated.

He wasn’t seen in a training gallery published by the club on Wednesday, and the striker has been on the sidelines for nearly three weeks. It’s likely Martial will need to regain fitness again before he’s able to start, although the No.9 should be an option to come off the bench on Monday.

It means Cristiano Ronaldo is the most likely option to start up front when Liverpool travel to Old Trafford, despite the ongoing speculation surrounding his future.

Ten Hag fielded more questions on the Portugal star in Friday’s pre-match press conference, and insisted he remains part of the team’s plans for the upcoming campaign.

“I don’t know why he is in particular focus after Saturday [and the loss to Brentford],” the United manager responded to a question on Ronaldo’s future.

“It was the team’s performance and the whole team’s attitude, including Ronaldo. He is in our plans. That is what I can say.”