Erik ten Hag insists Anthony Martial is ready to start for Manchester United as he approaches three months since he last lined up for the team.
Ten Hag has not named Martial in the United starting XI since the Manchester derby against City on January 14 as the Frenchman sustained a hip injury that forced him off at half-time in the win.
Martial has been back in full training for five weeks but he was named as a substitute against Newcastle, Brentford and Fulham. Martial came on in all three games and scored the clincher in the 2-0 defeat of Everton on Saturday.
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The 27-year-old has claimed seven goals in 17 appearances for United this term but Martial has not completed 90 minutes in the Premier League since January 2021.
Although it is still uncertain if Martial will go straight into the starting side against former club Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-final first leg on Thursday night, Ten Hag defended the Frenchman.
"We don't have to force things," Ten Hag said. "We are careful, of course. The front line against Everton worked really well. I think it was continuity, we were a threat, was difficult to defend for the opponent.
""I think he is ready to start the game, but as I said, the front line did very well against Brentford did really well and we decided to go with that against Everton and did really well.
"The advantage was we could bring Martial back slowly, in the team, giving him minutes, get him used to a game at the highest level and to highest intensity but I think already against Everton he was ready to start the game.
"You say I defended him, yeah. But I just point to the stats. The stats are telling you the moment he is on the pitch, the time he needs for a goal is less.
"When he's in the team, I refer to games against Man City and against Liverpool, we play our best football and we have our best results as a team.
"I defend him because I point to the stats and I see how he contributes to this team."
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