French forward Anthony Martial has been absent from Manchester United since their 0-3 loss to Bournemouth on December 9, and he will now be sidelined for an extended period following surgery. Martial has faced numerous disappointments and injuries during his tenure at Manchester United since joining the Red Devils from Monaco in 2015.

 

In an official statement, Manchester United expressed, “Anthony Martial has successfully undergone surgery to address a groin issue and is expected to be sidelined for approximately 10 weeks for recovery. We wish Anthony a speedy recovery and look forward to his return.”

Martial has endured a dismal season, featuring in only 7 matches across all competitions and scoring 2 goals. He has become a lightning rod for criticism from fans, notably when he replaced Rasmus Hojlund in the match against Brighton in September, drawing sharp rebuke from experts, including former Manchester United captain Roy Keane.

 

It appears highly likely that the French player will depart the club in the summer, especially after Erik ten Hag declared limited prospects of activating a one-year contract extension clause, set to expire in the June transfer window.

 

Martial has not played a full 90 minutes for MU in the last three years, with the most recent instance being in the 1-2 defeat to Sheffield United in January 2021. With 90 goals and 53 assists in 9 seasons for Manchester United, he stands as the longest-serving player at the club to date.

 

Martial is set to undergo a 10-week recovery period and could potentially make a timely return for the high-stakes Premier League match at Old Trafford against Liverpool on April 6. While his absence may not evoke much sorrow among many Old Trafford faithful, it leaves Rasmus Hojlund as the sole natural center-forward option for Erik ten Hag until Martial’s comeback.