Despite having scored five goals and provided three assists in just eight appearances this season (four starts, four as a substitute), Anthony Martial has been left out of the France squad for Les Bleus last round of World Cup 2018 qualifiers next month.
Didier Deschamps has elected for the talents of Dimitri Payet and Florian Thauvin of Marseille, as well as Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud, over the in-form Martial, who has averaged a goal or assist every 39 minutes that he’s played so far this season, across the Premier League, Champions League and League Cup.
The Frenchman was United’s man of the match in their 4-1 win over CSKA Moscow in the Russian capital on Wednesday night, notching a goal and providing two assists to Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku before half-time in the Champions League Group A fixture.
That win sees United sitting pretty at the top of their group, three points ahead of both Basel and CSKA, whilst Benfica are rock bottom with zero points — and have free-scoring United up next in the competition.
Martial’s non-inclusion in his national team squad will be welcome news in one place though: Jose Mourinho’s office. Not playing during the international break means a far reduced risk of injury, which any club manager would be happy with!
