Manchester United offer injury update on Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani ahead of derby

Martial passed fit but Cavani faces nervous wait

Mark Critchley
Northern Football Correspondent
Friday 11 December 2020 14:30 GMT
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Manchester United forward Anthony Martial
Manchester United forward Anthony Martial (Getty Images)

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Anthony Martial will be available for Manchester United in Saturday’s derby but Edinson Cavani faces a late fitness test.

Martial and Cavani missed United’s Champions League defeat to RB Leipzig on Tuesday after picking up minor muscle injuries in last weekend’s 3-1 win at West Ham.

Solskjaer is certain that Martial will be able to play against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City on Saturday but will wait before making a final call on Cavani’s fitness.

“Anthony will definitely be involved,” Solskjaer said. “Edinson has been on the grass but I'll make a decision later.”

United are otherwise injury free, though Sergio Romero and Phil Jones are both unregistered in Solskjaer’s 25-man Premier League squad.

Read more: Manchester United vs Man City predicted line-ups: Confirmed team news for Premier League fixture

The Norwegian will be looking for a response after United crashed out of Europe’s elite club competition with their 3-2 defeat in Leipzig.

“Of course we were disappointed on Tuesday night, it's natural,” Solskjaer said. “We really wanted to go through, the reality is we’re not. We’ve got to move on.  

“It was a tight group decided by fine margins, you can see that in most games. We had a long travel back so we had a day of recovery on Wednesday and after that, the focus has been good.  

“This game, the Manchester derby, is probably the best game you can ask for after such a disappointment because it does stick in your system.”

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