Anthony Martial will potentially miss the rest of Manchester United’s season after suffering a knee injury while on international duty with France.
Martial was not part of United’s squad to play Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford in Sunday’s late kick-off and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed that the 25-year-old’s problem was more serious than first feared.
"Unfortunately he's sprained his knee with France,” Solskjaer told MUTV. “It’s always when they go away on internationals… you can keep your fingers crossed and hope they come back fit.”
“Losing Anthony for what might be the rest of the season is very disappointing, especially when the reports and signals from [France] were that it wasn't serious but it looks like a bad one.”
Martial was forced off during the second half of France’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Kazakhstan in Nur-Sultan last Sunday.
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The United forward, who had set up Ousmane Dembele’s opening goal, continued for a few minutes after suffering the initial injury but was soon replaced by Kylian Mbappe.
A video uploaded to Instagram on Sunday by Martial’s wife Melanie Da Cruz showed him wearing a large protective brace around his left knee.
The injury leaves Solskjaer reliant on Edinson Cavani as his first-choice central striker, with Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood able to deputise up top.
Both Cavani and Rashford have struggled with injuries at times this season.
Rashford is carrying a shoulder problem which may require surgery after this summer’s European Championship, while Cavani has played just two of United’s last six Premier League games due to fitness issues.
