Manchester United forward Anthony Martial has been ruled out of Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City due to a hamstring injury.
Martial picked up the problem in United’s final Premier League game of the season after stepping off the bench on Sunday against Fulham and scans have revealed the full extent of the damage.
What United said
United said in a statement: “Anthony Martial is out of Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup final against Manchester City due to injury.
“The France international strained his hamstring towards the end of Sunday’s 2-1 win against Fulham at Old Trafford.
“Assessments have since revealed a muscle tear that rules the 27-year-old out of the Wembley showdown.”
Rashford's return
Though Martial has been ruled out, United manager Erik ten Hag will be boosted by the return from injury of leading scorer Marcus Rashford.
The England forward missed the Premier League victories over Wolves and Bournemouth with a leg injury but played just over an hour and also scored in the 4-1 victory in over Chelsea in United's penultimate league game as well as the full 90 minutes against Fulham last Sunday.
Rashford, 25, has enjoyed his most prolific season, scoring 30 goals across competitions
Other options
Ten Hag could also turn to Wout Weghorst. The Dutch striker has been limited in his appearances of late, and Saturday's match will be his last in a United shirt following the end of his loan from Burnley.
United are looking to end their season on a high after winning the League Cup in February and a third-place finish in the Premier League that qualified them for next season's Champions League.
Man United v Fulham ratings
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MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea - 8. Awarded a golden glove before the game and conceded just the 10th league goal of the season at Old Trafford as Tete put Fulham ahead. The Spaniard is not known for saving penalties, but he dived to his left to save a 25th minute penalty from Mitrovic. PA -
Tyrell Malacia - 7. Tenacious and pulled back Willian but wasn’t booked in a 32nd minute attack. Tackled well and played as well as he did in the first month of the season. Getty -
Victor Lindelof - 7. Continues to play well, this time alongside his old defensive foil Maguire. Comfortable afternoon in the sun. Getty -
Harry Maguire - 7. Rare start and backpeddled to clear an early Fulham attack. Began the move which led to the United equaliser with a pass forward to Fernandes. Also moved to the halfway line to rob a ball from the Fulham midfield, then headed over on 44. AP -
Diogo Dalot - 6. Met a Fernandes cross after two minutes, made a super interception from Willian just before half time and shot on target in the same move. Faded in the second half. Not a certainty to start the FA Cup final. Getty -
Fred - 6. Ran though the Fulham defence to set up the equaliser. Got a second assist when Fernandes stayed onside to get United’s winner. Five key passes in total. AP -
Casemiro - 6. Been in top, match-winning form but gave the ball away a couple of times at the start. Ambitious shot from his own half that went nowhere. Then gave a penalty away with a lunge. Shot from an acute angle on 31. AP -
Jadon Sancho - 7. Played on the right and showed his quick feet running into the Fulham box, and was in the right position to poke the ball in for the equaliser after 38 minutes. A big performance in the Cup final would lift his confidence so much. AP -
Bruno Fernandes - 8. Terrific pass to Dalot on the overlap at the start and spread the ball about well throughput the game. Got the winner after 55 minutes, staying onside to finish Fred’s set up and maintain United’s superb home form this season. Getty -
Alejandro Garnacho - 6. Exciting when he got on the ball and shot wide after the best move of the first half. Then he hit the cross bar in a subsequent attack before a 37th minute shot straight at Leno. Fits and starts. Tired in the second half. Reuters -
Marcus Rashford - 6. Free kick pushed over after 10, then nowhere near his marker Tete who put Fulham ahead with a near post header. Had a chance at the start of the second half and took six shots in total, but couldn’t add to his impressive goals total this season. Looks fit. Getty -
SUBS: Christian Eriksen (Fred 66') - 6. Rested at the start, probably ahead of the final. AP -
Anthony Martial (Garnacho 67') - 6. Not much. Needs to be the at his best if he starts in the FA Cup final. Getty -
Scott McTominay (Casemiro 67') - 6. Booked. Getty -
Wout Weghorst (Rashford 77') - 6. Put a chance wide from six yards out after being set up by Pellistri. Probably his last game for United at Old Trafford. Facundo Pellistri (Fernandes 84') - N/A. PA -
FULHAM RATINGS: Bernd Leno - 7. The German goalkeeper made several smart stops, most notably a stunning reach to prevent Marcus Rashford from scoring early on. However, he could do little to prevent either of the home side’s goals. AP -
Kenny Tete - 7. Scorer of Fulham’s opener, which was a brilliantly guided header at the near post from a corner. Grew in confidence as the game wore on following a shaky start defensively. Getty -
Tosin Adarabioyo - 7. The more solid of Fulham’s central defenders, having won almost all aerial duels and prevented United from extending their lead with some key blocks. PA -
Issa Diop - 5. Endured a tough afternoon, encapsulated best by his clumsy efforts to try and stop Jadon Sancho’s opening goal. Reuters -
Antonee Robinson - 6. Struggled to suppress the impact of Diogo Dalot down the left-side for Fulham, with many of United’s early attacks being focused down that channel. Chances to get forward were also few and far between. Getty -
Sasa Lukic - 6. Looked a handful on the few occasions he ventured into the final third, linking up nicely with Mitrovic. The midfielder faded as the game wore on, leading to his eventual substitution. AFP -
Joao Palhinha - 6. Showed his class in spells, although this wasn’t a vintage display from the former Sporting man. Picked up a yellow card in the second half. Getty -
Tom Cairney - 7. Won a first-half penalty for Fulham thanks to his quick feet. Generally retained the ball well and helped his side get further up the pitch after spells of United pressure. Getty -
Harry Wilson - 6. Worked hard for the cause but was peripherally involved for the most part. The Wales international was subbed off in the second half. Reuters -
Willian - 7. Grabbed the assist for Fulham’s opener, swinging in a delightful corner for Tete to head home. His side’s most influential attacker on the day. Getty -
Aleksandar Mitrovic - 5. Posed a real threat to United when the service from Fulham’s midfield was on the money. However, his game was defined by a missed Fulham penalty with the game still at 1-0 to the away side. AFP -
SUBS: Harrison Reed (Lukic 66') - 6. Slightly wasteful in possession, although it should be noted the midfielder didn’t see a great deal of the ball after coming on. PA -
Manor Solomon (Wilson 66') - 7. Was denied in front of goal by De Gea, but did add some dynamism to Fulham’s counterattacks. Getty -
Carlos Vinicius (Mitrovic 80') - N/A. Dan James (Cairney 80') - N/A. Reuters
