Manchester United have received a very unlikely fitness boost with Anthony Martial ahead of the season opener.
Manchester United have confirmed Anthony Martial is back in full first team training ahead of the first game of the season against Wolves.
Martial’s return is a welcome boost with new signing Rasmus Hojlund training on an individual basis amid a back problem.
The French striker has not played a single minute of pre-season, due to a hamstring injury suffered on the final day of the Premier League campaign in 2022/23.
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loans, releases, youth for 2023/24
Extra option for Erik ten Hag
This is a complete role reversal on last season. In pre-season 2022, Anthony Martial featured regularly, before injuring himself against Atletico Madrid in one of the final warm-ups.
It meant that 48 hours prior to the season kick-off against Brighton, Martial was ruled out, and Erik ten Hag‘s carefully laid plans were thrown into disarray.
This time, Ten Hag has been planning without Martial, and so getting him fit is an added bonus.
MORE UNITED STORIES
Martial can give United’s attack an extra dimension, and he will certainly gives Wolves something extra to plan for.
Most likely option v Wolves
Anthony Martial will likely only make the substitute’s bench at best against Wolves. United may need him in subsequent games, and so won’t ask him to do too much.
With Hojlund also out, the most likely front three will see Marcus Rashford line up in the centre, Antony on the right and Alejandro Garnacho on the left.
This was how United lined up against Lens last week, only this time, Martial will be an extra option from the bench.
It has to be worth mentioning too, that there are a few training sessions left between now and Monday. Hopefully Martial makes it.