Anthony Martial handed chance to salvage Man United career on Sevilla return

LONDON – Anthony Martial was shipped out on loan to Sevilla last season with his Manchester United career seemingly at an end, but

the Frenchman has returned to prominence

in time for a Europa League reunion with the Spanish club.

Marcus Rashford was back in training only on Wednesday after an

injury

, meaning Martial will likely lead United’s attack on his return to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Thursday with a place in the semi-finals on the line.

Two late United own goals in the first leg at Old Trafford last week have

left the tie finely poised at 2-2.

Martial played a major part as he contributed to a 2-0 lead, thanks to Marcel Sabitzer’s double inside the first 21 minutes.

“When he is fit, our team plays better,” said United manager Erik ten Hag on the striker’s impact.

“He’s an incredibly good player. He can link up, keeps the ball, also the pressing is good. He will score goals, he is capable of scoring goals. He can finish, no doubt about that.”

Injury problems have minimised Martial’s impact this season and has been the story of the 27-year-old’s United career. Signed from Monaco in 2015, he has never truly realised his potential despite scoring 86 goals in 288 appearances.

His time at Sevilla was even less fruitful. Having been pushed down the pecking order by Cristiano Ronaldo’s return for a second spell at United, Martial sought first-team football in Spain, but scored just once in 12 appearances in the second half of last season.

Ronaldo’s departure in November has given Martial a final chance to rekindle his career at Old Trafford. But fitness problems have limited his impact to just 19 appearances in United’s gruelling 51-match campaign to this point.

Ten Hag, though, has remained steadfast in his support as he desperately seeks a firing No. 9.

His patience with loanee Wout Weghorst has also run out in recent weeks after the Dutch international scored just twice in 22 games.

Martial, meanwhile, has netted seven times at a rate of a goal every 133 minutes under ten Hag. Yet, he has plenty to prove – especially on his fitness – if United are to be convinced of extending his contract beyond the end of next season.

While Martial could be key on Thursday, Sabitzer could be among the players unavailable due to injury. First-choice centre-backs Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are also missing for the trip to Spain.

The biggest blow of all, though, could be the absence of Bruno Fernandes due to suspension.

The Portuguese shone as he was reunited with Christian Eriksen and Casemiro in midfield during the 2-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest last weekend.

In 17 matches where all three have started, United have won 15 and drawn two, and as United’s stand-in captain for most of the season, Fernandes’ influence will surely be missed. AFP