French forward Anthony Martial, who has been absent from Manchester United since their 0-3 loss to Bournemouth on December 9, will now be sidelined for an extended period after undergoing surgery. Martial’s time at Manchester United since joining from Monaco in 2015 has been marred by disappointments and injuries.

In an official statement, Manchester United confirmed that Martial had undergone a successful surgery to address a groin issue. The club expects him to be out of action for approximately 10 weeks as he recovers. They wished him a speedy recovery and expressed anticipation for his return.

Martial has endured a challenging season, featuring in only seven matches across all competitions and scoring two goals. He has faced criticism from fans, particularly when he replaced Rasmus Hojlund in the match against Brighton in September, drawing rebuke from experts, including former Manchester United captain Roy Keane.

It seems increasingly likely that Martial will leave the club in the summer, especially after comments from manager Erik ten Hag suggesting limited prospects of activating a one-year contract extension clause set to expire in the June transfer window.

Martial has not played a full 90 minutes for Manchester United in the past three years, with his last complete game being the 1-2 defeat to Sheffield United in January 2021. With 90 goals and 53 assists in nine seasons for the club, he currently holds the distinction of being the longest-serving player at Manchester United.

Martial is expected to undergo a 10-week recovery period and could potentially make a timely return for the crucial Premier League match against Liverpool at Old Trafford on April 6. While his absence may not cause much sorrow among many Manchester United fans, it leaves Rasmus Hojlund as the sole natural center-forward option for Erik ten Hag until Martial returns.