Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that the team "need" Anthony Martial if they are to be successful during the 2022-23 campaign.
The Red Devils suffered a 3-2 loss to Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, but they are still fourth in the table, three points clear of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand, as the club battle to secure a return to the Champions League for next season.
Man United are also in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup and fourth round of the FA Cup, while they will take on Barcelona in a two-legged Europa League knockout round playoff next month.
The 20-time English champions have boosted their forward line this month with the addition of Wout Weghorst on loan from Burnley, and the Netherlands international has started the team's last two games against Crystal Palace and Arsenal due to Martial's absence.
The Frenchman has been restricted to just 13 appearances this term due to injury, and he is also out of Wednesday's EFL Cup semi-final first leg with Nottingham Forest.
© Reuters
Martial has struggled with hamstring, Achilles, back and muscular problems this season, and Ten Hag has said that the forward must work on being "more available".
The Dutchman is also certain that the Red Devils are a better side with the former Monaco youngster in it.
"He is not constantly injured, he is playing games. So he has to work on that (playing more consistently). In that fact I agree. He has to be more available," Ten Hag told reporters.
"He can't do nothing for it in that sense, it's sometimes also bad luck. But sometimes you don't know also really the cause, what the reason behind it is. But when he is there, he's really important for us because we play our best football when he is available.
"He has to be aware of that as well. If we want to be successful, we need him. And the first thing is he has to be available."
© Reuters
Martial made the move to Old Trafford from Monaco in September 2015, and he has represented the Red Devils on 282 appearances, scoring 84 goals and contributing 52 assists in the process.
The 27-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Sevilla before returning to Man United, and his form during pre-season convinced Ten Hag to keep him at the club.
There is uncertainty surrounding the striker's long-term future at Old Trafford, though, as he has entered the final 18 months of his current agreement with the club.
Man United will be in the market for a new centre-forward this summer, with Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Napoli's Victor Osimhen believed to be their two leading targets.
Matt Law
