Dugout Discussion

Martial could be out for the season as Solskjaer speaks ahead of Brighton clash

Anthony Martial‘s campaign might already be over, thanks to the knee injury he picked up while on duty for France over the March international break.

The striker’s expected absence from Sunday night’s match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion was confirmed upon the release of the teamsheets, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer offering a grim prognosis ahead of the 19:30 BST kick-off.

The United boss said:

Unfortunately, he sprained his knee with France. It’s always when they go away on internationals… you can keep your fingers crossed and hope that they come back fit.

But losing Anthony for what might be the rest of the season is very disappointing, especially when reports and signals are from there [France] that it wasn’t anything serious but it looks a bad one.

Alex Telles was feeling a bit ill, not COVID related, but he’s not fit enough to play.

Martial has been in underwhelming form for much of the campaign and hasn’t been on many Fantasy radars in some time but any lengthy absence would only boost Edinson Cavani‘s prospects of more Premier League starts, with the obvious caveat being the rotation risk around the UEFA Europa League ties.

The veteran Uruguayan leads the line for the Red Devils tonight and is one of two changes that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made from United’s last Premier League game three weeks ago.

Daniel James is the man to make way for Cavani, with Paul Pogba replacing Scott McTominay in midfield.

Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood recover from injury to feature, while Bruno Fernandes will be looking to add to the four attacking returns he had registered in two previous meetings with the Seagulls.

Dean Henderson keeps his place ahead of David de Gea, with Solskjaer explaining:

We’ve got nine league games, we’ve got Europa League. With the two options I’ve got, it’s a difficult one to leave one out as both of them have done well enough to play.

Brighton are unsurprisingly unchanged from their excellent 3-0 win over Newcastle United.

Dan Burn isn’t involved in the matchday squad, with Graham Potter having previously confirmed that the left-sided defender was still struggling for fitness.


Manchester United XI: Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, Pogba, Fernandes, Greenwood, Cavani, Rashford.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Sanchez, White, Dunk, Veltman, Gross, Lallana, Bissouma, Moder, Trossard, Maupay, Welbeck.

434 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Seriously. Pogba can trap a ball further than I can pass it.

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Hahaha ... and James can’t trap a ball at all.

  2. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    clearly not a pen

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Don’t think your a credible source considering you call yourself ggmu

      1. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I'm very objective and neutral

        1. Duke Silver ☑
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          😆

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Pen and RC. Ole’s moaning worked.

  3. zon
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    LOL. In the other end that is 100% a pen

    1. TOLV TUMS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      lol so true.

  4. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    How is that not a pen?

    1. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      because it wasn't

    2. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Because it was against ManU. Would have been a pen at the other end.

  5. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    WCers going with Salah on WC or not?

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No

    2. dshv
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      With him and captain him till the end

      1. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yeo

      2. School of Poch
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I want to go with him but not sure if the WC draft with him is better than the one without. Thoughts?

        A (Salah)

        Mendy Forster
        TAA Shaw Coady Coufal Amartey
        Salah Bruno Son Jota Lingard
        Kane Iheanacho Brewster

        B (Salah-less)

        Mendy Forster
        TAA Dias Cresswell Shaw Coady
        Bruno Son Jota Lingard Neto
        Kane DCL Iheanacho

    3. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Jota

      1. School of Poch
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I have Jota as well. Caught between 2 drafts on WC, one with Salah and one without.

    4. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nope ... Jota for me.

      1. School of Poch
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Not worth having both?

        1. BOATIES FC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Both imo

  6. FourLokoLeipzig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Looked like a pen from every angle they showed... and yet not given. Strange one

    1. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      camera angles can be very deceptive

      1. The Polymath
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        It can hide the fact that the player committing the foul is a United player. 😉

  7. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    This has 89th minute Mike Dean headliner written all over it.

  8. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    RMWCT, plz?

    Areola | Johnstone
    Boly Shaw Phillips
    Salah KdB Son Jota Saka
    Kane DC-L
    ¦ Iheanacho Diop Amartey

    Not much team value...

  9. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Don't care for it, but htf is that not a pen vs Magwar the Greek?

  10. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What’s that ... Shaw fouled in the box and Bruno steps up in the 90th minute ... well sure, thank you.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      well shaw*

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Hmm ref may need additional payments for another

    3. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      The ultimate goal? Sweet when they happen.

  11. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    A Bruno booking would be sweet.

  12. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Half time bung worked wonders

  13. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Raphinha has returned in every one of the last 17gws were Leeds scored. Thinking of HODLing him

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      i m holding and benching until gw34

    2. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Don't think he'll BIELSwhere next year.

  14. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    So annoying having Bruno EO over 100 literally every week. Means you can’t even enjoy his points if you haven’t captained

  15. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    The Great Dutch Bake Off coming on ....

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Smoking early?

      1. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Let’s see if Danny can deliver ... if he does I might have to double check I haven’t been smoking ...

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Space muffins?

    3. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Greenwood nicks the Dutch Paul Hollywood’s first goal ...

  16. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    This has Maguire winner all over it.

    (Please footballing gods)

  17. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    2-1 Greenwood

  18. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Green goal

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Pogba assist

  19. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Farce

  20. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Comeee onnn!!!

  21. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Hate Man U

    1. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      2nd place with a rocket!

  22. brianutd-why always we? 20
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Standard practice

  23. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    what is this?

  24. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    need a bruno pen to seal this

  25. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    GREENWOODDDDD

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Officials deliver 3 pts again

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Cry me a river

  26. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Still fpl will find a way to give Bruno the max BP.

    1. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      It’s mental

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      This game has irrelevant Bruno goal on the counter written all over it

  27. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Raphina+Bamford to Jota+Ihenacho seems like a popular swap?

  28. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Officials off with 3 more points at OT then.

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      What was wrong with our goals?

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Think he's on about the maguire penalty decision, my stream didn't show a single decent replay of it so I can't comment but the commentator seemed certain it was a pen

          1. Make United Great Again
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            That’s honestly never a penalty. Would have been a harsh decision.

            1. Tinkermania
              • 4 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              I am a neutral and didn't have anyone player in the match. I saw enough contact to think it was a pen. I understand fans would disagree.

            2. Bushwhacker
              • 4 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Pen and RC for anyone else

        • Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          he's a pool supporter, always complains about United

          1. Make United Great Again
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Typical

            1. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              hope he's enjoying going from champions to 6th

              1. Bushwhacker
                • 4 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                * season ; not that bothered to be honest. It was a clear penalty and a red card, Ole moaned, the refs responded.

    2. Flynny
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Thoughts in greenwood as a wildcard differential?

      I can't squeeze Bruno into my squad. Might greenwood be worth a punt?

      Likely to get a run of games now I think plus martial injured

      Thanks

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        He’ll still get the odd benching. Not worth it

        1. Flynny
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Martial out.

          Cavani poor tonight....

          This could be his time...

    3. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Dunk would destroy Maguire.

      1. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        He’d mono block his driveway with his face.

      2. BeaversWithAttitude
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yes, but he'd have to go through Mike Dean first.