Solskjaer explains Martial's absence

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has explained that Anthony Martial has been left out of the squad for the visit of Club Brugge after “not feeling right” during training on Wednesday.

The Frenchman has scored in each of his last three outings for the Reds, including notching an important away goal in the first leg in Belgium.

There will be the hope he can be available for Sunday's trip to Merseyside to face Everton in the Premier League, while his absence hands a chance up front to Odion Ighalo, who starts a United match for the first time.

“He [Anthony] didn't feel right during the training yesterday, or he walked off during the training, and he is injured so hopefully it won't be too bad,” said Ole to MUTV's Stewart Gardner. “But I don't really know yet how long it will be.”

The boss has suggested it is a muscle injury and he hopes Martial will be fit for the weekend but he is not certain yet whether that will be the case.

Meanwhile, Eric Bailly and Scott McTominay get a chance to show they are back to full fitness after being included in the XI.

“Yeah they need the minutes, but they have deserved to play,” added the boss. “Eric did really well against Chelsea, Scott has been fantastic all season. But this is not a game to just give minutes out, we need to go through. We want to win the game, we want to win it well. We know we are playing against a difficult team, they are hard to break down, they counter at pace, have size from set-plays and we need to play well.”

Of course, Ighalo will be desperate to do well on his full debut for the team he has supported all his life.

“Well, he is focused and, of course, he has been looking forward to this,” stated Solskjaer. “So let's make sure that we play well, create chances for him and go through.”