Manchester United are back in action this weekend as they face Brentford in their first away test of the summer. Erik ten Hag will aim to record United’s first win on the road since beating Leeds at Elland Road in February.
United were dealt a shocking start to the season after last weekend’s surprise defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford and are already in desperate need of three points.
Thomas Frank’s side lost both games against the Reds last term and they will be eager to put that right against an under-pressure United side.
Ahead of the 90-minute affair in London, Ten Hag has confirmed that Anthony Martial and Victor Lindelof remain absent after the pair missed the curtain-raiser against Brighton.
It’s still the same,” he told the official Manchester United website when quizzed on the pair’s fitness.
Martial scores three goals in five games during pre-season and looked to be the first-choice striker going into the campaign but is now facing the prospect of another season in and out of the side.
Martial’s fine form this summer meant that Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to the side was not as urgent but now, it feels like the Portuguese forward is almost certain to start against Brentford.
United started the game against Brighton without a striker and for the first 45 minutes, they looked lost. They improved in the second half when Ronaldo came on.
Ronaldo is now likely to stay after he failed to engineer a move away from the club and he will be keen to win over the supporters again with a couple of goals early in the season.
