Louis van Gaal has said that Anthony Martial and Matteo Darmian are fit for Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Watford on Wednesday.
Martial has been rested since pulling out of United’s comprehensive victory against Midtjylland in the Europa League with a tight hamstring while Darmian has been out since the middle of February after dislocating his shoulder against Sunderland.
Both may face a fight to regain their first-team places instantly, with Marcus Rashford bursting onto the scene with four goals in two appearances up top, and Guillermo Varela producing some fine performances at right-back.
Chris Smalling is still a doubt after the centre-back injured his shoulder after colliding with the advertising boards during United’s victory against Shrewsbury in the FA Cup last week.
Speaking to MUTV, van Gaal said:
Players are coming back in March, I think. We need players who are coming back because our programme is very full.
Martial can play and also Darmian can play. Maybe Chris Smalling can play. We have to wait and see for tomorrow.
The United manager also provided positive updates on Marouane Fellaini, Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney:
[Marouane] Fellaini and [Antonio] Valencia are the first ones to come back, I think.
Fellaini shall come into the last step of the process of team training, and also Valencia today has trained with the group, so they are coming back. Wayne Rooney is still in a brace.
Van Gaal added that players may have to gain match fitness before coming back into first-team contention, citing Marcos Rojo as an example:
We have to build players up. You have seen how I did it with Marcos Rojo – 20 minutes and, the second time, 60 minutes, though he did not reach that. So it’s not so easy. Playing in the second team is also a possibility.
It was a kick [for Rojo]. A lot of players receive kicks and they can play the next match.
