13 April 2023 , 06:00
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Erik ten Hag has insisted Anthony Martial is ready to start as Manchester United seek goalscoring alternatives during Marcus Rashford's spell on the sidelines.
Rashford limped off in the closing stages of United's 2-0 victory over Everton on Saturday with an apparent groin problem.
And United confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that their talismanic forward will be out of action "for a few games" after scans revealed the full extent of Rashford's injury.
"A few games, so that's the statement,” Ten Hag said in his press conference. “I can't give more details on it because we don't now. We'll have to see it how it develops."
Rashford's absence is a considerable blow for Ten Hag ahead of Thursday evening's Europa League quarter-final first leg against Sevilla at Old Trafford.
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Sevilla are 13th in La Liga but have the European pedigree to provide a significant threat to United in their hopes of claiming more silverware this season.
The Spanish side dumped United out of the Champions League in 2018 and have won the Europa League on six occasions since its restructure in the 2004-05 season.
Ten Hag will therefore be grateful to have Martial back fit and firing after he scored the game-clinching second goal in Saturday's uplifting win.
"I think he is ready to start, but as I said, the front line did very well against Brentford and we picked the same against Everton,” Ten Hag said. “The advantage was we could bring Martial back slowly, giving him minutes, but I think already against Everton he was ready to start the game."
Martial will be tasked with replacing Rashford's goals in the upcoming weeks (Getty Images)Wout Weghorst is United's other option to lead the line but has just two goals in 20 appearances since his January move and Martial is a more potent finisher so may be preferred over the giant Dutch workhorse for his first start in three months.
The Frenchman spent an underwhelming period on loan in Seville last season and has the added incentive of scoring against the former team he failed to perform for.
Elsewhere, Ten Hag has confirmed that Luke Shaw and Alejandro Garnacho are still unavailable for the fixture.
Harry Maguire put in an improved display against Everton but a refreshed Raphael Varane could return alongside the undroppable Lisandro Martinez.
Casemiro will return to the starting XI against Sevilla (Getty Images)Tyrell Malacia will start at left-back in Shaw's absence and the resurgent Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been playing like a man with a point to prove ever since his World Cup break.
Casemiro will slot straight back into the starting team on a big European night alongside Marcel Sabitzer after Scott McTominay was ruled out through injury.
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Bruno Fernandes is another undroppable for Ten Hag in midfield, with Antony and Jadon Sancho tasked with providing a threat from the flanks.
That would leave Christian Eriksen and Facundo Pellistri among the potential attacking reinforcements on the bench, with Weghorst also available to be called upon if he is left out of the starting team.
Man Utd predicted starting XI against Sevilla: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Malacia, Casemiro, Sabitzer, Fernandes, Sancho, Antony, Martial.