Manchester United have received an important injury boost ahead of their clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday after it was revealed that the knock which forced Anthony Martial off during the 4-1 win over CSKA Moscow was nothing serious.
The Frenchman, rested over the weekend, enjoyed a sumptuous return to the starting XI in Moscow, providing two assists for Romelu Lukaku and netting his fifth goal of the season from the spot before half time. Confidence is running through his veins like never before and he terrorised CSKA’s right hand side with a series of penetrative runs from minute one. And he had a hand in United’s only goal of the second half, firing a shot at Igor Akinfeev that the keeper could only palm in the direction of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who added United’s fourth. Soon after, however, Martial signalled to bench and was quickly replaced by Marcus Rashford.
Another injury to a key player would give Mourinho something of a selection headache against Palace. Paul Pogba, Phil Jones, Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini all missed the win in Moscow through injury and the boss will struggle to field a fresh team just two days after returning from the Russian capital. Mkhitaryan also appeared to show signs of nursing a knock, heading straight for the tunnel after being replaced by Jesse Lingard, no there have been no further updates on his condition.
Thankfully, however, Martial will be available for selection on Saturday afternoon, with M.E.N’s Samuel Luckhurst confirming that the winger was showing no signs of discomfort after the game.
Told Anthony Martial wasn't limping when #mufc returned to Manchester Airport after coming off injured in the second-half at CSKA.
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) September 28, 2017
