Anthony Martial has provided an injury update with the Manchester Evening News claiming that he remains a doubt for the visit to Northampton Town tonight in EFL Cup action following a number of knocks picked up in Sunday’s defeat to Watford. With a head and ankle injury, it still remains unclear how long he will be out of action for but Martial has spoken on social media to assure fans that he won’t be out for long.
One man who will certainly miss the upcoming match is left-back Luke Shaw who has suffered a minor groin tear in the game against Watford at Vicarage Road, and will now miss the EFL Cup tie and is a doubt for the fixture against Leicester City at the weekend, claim BBC Sport. Even if fit, it’s unknown if Jose Mourinho would choose the former Southampton man to start given the very public falling out between the pair of them in the aftermath of the club’s third consecutive defeat.
The Red Devils, alongside Arsenal, are believed to be tracking attacking midfielder Panos Armenakas as the 18-year-old comes ever close to making his debut for Udinese in Serie A. TuttoMercatoWeb claim that the club are monitoring the Australian, with links to Greece and the United States, having represented all three at youth international level at different stages. The playmaker also spent two years at Watford, moving to Udinese two years ago, and could return to the Premier League soon if rumours are to be believed.
The sensation has been identified as one of the brightest young talents in Italy and could move to Old Trafford to make the most of his undoubted potential. However, he may be put off by the presence of Jose Mourinho, so often criticised for his poor management and development of youth players coming through the ranks, with even Marcus Rashford struggling for starts since Mourinho’s arrival at Old Trafford. That may sway Armenakas towards a move to Arsenal, but United will not give in easily in their pursuit.
Going the other way could be 24-year-old defender Phil Jones. Currently out of action with a knee ligament injury, the Sun claim that Jones’ future was unclear since the moment that Jose Mourinho arrived at the club and now the Portuguese boss has decided that the former Blackburn man, who earns £110,000 a week, will be sold with the funds being reinvested into the club to strengthen the back-line with some of Mourinho’s own targets, such as Southampton captain Jose Fonte.
Liverpool and Arsenal are said to have been monitoring the former England international’s situation, though he is still three weeks away from full fitness. United are believed to have run out of patience with the defender as he has struggled with injuries over the past few seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson; one of his biggest fans, retired as manager of the club. Bosses are hoping to get Jones off of the books in January, but may be forced to wait until the summer to sell him and reinvest the incoming money in improvements.
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