Manchester United team news: Anthony Martial unlikely to be risked, Marcus Rashford may start

United were without nine players for Wednesday night’s win at Crystal Palace

Mark Critchley
Northern Football Correspondent
Friday 01 March 2019 13:47 GMT
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Crystal Palace vs Man Utd

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not expect any of his injured players to return for Manchester United’s meeting with Southampton this weekend.

United were without nine players for Wednesday night’s win at Crystal Palace, after a spate of injuries in Sunday’s goalless draw with Liverpool.

Marcus Rashford recovered from an ankle problem in time to make a substitute appearance at Selhurst Park and is likely to start on Saturday.

But the likes of Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Jesse Lingard and Nemanja Matic were all absent and are not expected to return against Southampton.

Anthony Martial is close to recovering from a groin problem but Solskjaer said on Friday that he is reluctant to risk the forward or any other player struggling for fitness.

“It’s the last session today. We’re not going to take any risks,” he said.

“Maybe Anthony but it might just be a few more days before he is ready. The squad will look similar to what it did on Wednesday.

“You do have a plan but then you get suspensions, injuries. That one injury or one suspension might change the whole dynamic. It’s a matter of seeing who’s available now.

“Wednesday night at Selhurst Park is a tough one and then Friday morning still so not too much recovery time. We’ll make our minds up tonight.”

On Rashford, Solskjaer said: “He still felt it Wednesday night but he’ll be ready. I’ll probably start him.”

United are likely to be without Phil Jones, who has been unavailable through illness, and club captain Antonio Valencia is still struggling with a calf injury.

Matteo Darmian has a knock, having not featured since coming on as a substitute against Brighton and Hove Albion.

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