Manchester United's star young player Anthony Martial has picked up a hamstring injury in the warm-up ahead of the Reds' UEFA Europa League second-leg tie against FC Midtjylland.

This continues the terrible luck United have been having with injuries, taking the injury list up to a remarkable 16. It also leaves United with just one striker in Marcus Rashford, who replaced Martial in the line-up on Thursday evening.

Marcus Rashford made his debut on Thursday | Photo: John Peters/Manchester United
Marcus Rashford made his debut on Thursday | Photo: John Peters/Manchester United

Martial injured in warm up

United went into the game needing a 1-0 to go through into the UEFA Europa League Round of 16. Martial could be out for three to four weeks alongside another young striker Will Keane while captain and main man Wayne Rooney is out for almost two months with a knee ligament injury.

Last week, in the first leg warm up for this tie, goalkeeper David de Gea was injured, leaving backup Sergio Romero  starting the last three games for Louis van Gaal.

United's injury woes continue to worsen

The Dutch manager blamed the Law of Murphy for that injury to De Gea and described the groin injury picked up by Keane against Shrewsbury Town on Monday as 'unbelievable' after the 23-year-old was forced off after just four minutes.

However, with a muscle injury to Martial, it is possible to question van Gaal's training methods. Martial was left as one of just two strikers after van Gaal sold Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez to Fenerbahce and Vfl Wolfsburg respectively. Meanwhile, James Wilson was loaned out to Brighton & Hove Albion and Radamel Falcao's loan move was terminated.

Van Gaal has left United with a very small squad, and his starting line-up against Midtjylland on Thursday resembled an under-21 side with Rashford, Jesse LingardGuillermo Varela and Joe Riley all starting.

There has been no confirmation of the extent of Martial's injury from Manchester United.

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About the author
Harry Robinson
Deputy Editor-in-Chief at VAVEL UK, and Manchester United Editor.