Anthony Martial has been instructed to train independently to enhance his fitness before Erik ten Hag will consider including him in Manchester United’s lineup. According to reports from Mail Sport, Martial has not trained with his teammates since contracting an illness last month, preventing him from playing since United’s 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth on December 9.
Ten Hag has been reserved in his comments about Martial in recent weeks, stating only that the player was unfit for the 2-2 draw with Tottenham last weekend. It is understood that the 28-year-old is not currently dealing with an injᴜry but has yet to fully recover from the illness he suffered last month.
Ten Hag’s decision for Martial to train on his own is not disciplinary but reflects his belief in individual training for players lacking match fitness. Currently, Martial is not considered fit enough to join the first-team group due to the intensity and work-rate demanded by the manager during training.
Anthony Martial continues to train separately from the United squad as he recovers from illness, and Erik ten Hag has provided little information about the Frenchman’s absence since early December 2023. Several United players experienced a sickness bug last month, with Marcus Rashford missing the final Champions League group game against Bayern Munich due to Norovirus but returning a few days later to play in the goalless draw against Liverpool.
While individual training for players returning from injᴜry is standard at United, the extended time it is taking Martial to regain fitness has raised concerns. Martial’s contract at Old Trafford expires at the end of the season, and he is expected to leave on a free transfer as he has not been offered a new deal.
United would entertain offers for Martial during the current window, as offloading his £250,000-a-week wages would provide greater financial flexibility for signing players while complying with Premier League spending rules. However, the player is reportedly eager to stay and compete for his place.
Despite failing to fulfill his potential since becoming the most expensive teenager in the Premier League five years ago, with United paying £36 million to Monaco, Martial has scored 63 league goals in 149 starts. While he may not have lived up to expectations at Old Trafford, Ten Hag still regards him as an important member of the squad.