Martial fit for Man Utd but Cavani requires fitness test ahead of derby

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed Anthony Martial will be involved in Saturday's derby against Manchester City - live on Sky Sports - but Edinson Cavani faces a late fitness test.

Cavani and Martial missed Tuesday's Champions League defeat to RB Leipzig, which saw United finish third in their group and drop into the Europa League knockouts.

Despite that disappointment, United have won their last four Premier League games - a run which helped Bruno Fernandes pick up the November Player of the Month award - and Solskjaer believes the City match at Old Trafford presents his side with the perfect opportunity to bounce back from the defeat in Europe.

He said: "Of course we were disappointed on Tuesday night. It's natural, we really wanted to go through. We have to move on. It was a tight group, decided by fine margins. After that the focus has been good.

"It's probably the best game you can ask for after such a disappointment because it does stick in the system.

On Martial and Cavani, he added: "Martial will definitely be involved, Edinson has been on the grass but I'll make a decision later on."

Meanwhile, Solskjaer said he has spoken to Paul Pogba after the player's agent Mino Raiola said his client's time at United is "over", Solskjaer added: "I speak to my players on a daily basis, Paul is no different to anyone else. For me, what was disappointing was us going out in the Champions League. Players want to go through in that. Whatever someone's representatives says can't really affect me."

More to follow

Merson Says: Derby is make or break for Ole

Sky Sports columnist Paul Merson:

For me, this is a massive football match. I would say that if he doesn't get through this, that could be it. I think it's make or break for Ole. That is, unless Man Utd have a different plan, and think differently about this club than everyone else.

Do Man Utd want anyone else? Are they comfortable with this situation? They run the show, there's no pressure, do they like that? Do the people who run Man Utd think they are the biggest club in football? Do they think like me, or do they think 'we're not that team anymore'?

Would Zinedine Zidane be in a job today if Real Madrid hadn't made the last 16 of the Champions League? Definitely not. They would have gone off the idea that they are the biggest club in the world, and would have made that decision.

I'd love to know whether those people running Manchester United are happy where they are. I don't get that feeling from the board that they believe they're the biggest team in the world.

Pitch to Post: Time to drop David de Gea?

There was plenty wrong with Manchester United's 3-2 defeat away to RB Leipzig which ended their Champions League involvement on Tuesday, from a sluggish start to wasted chances and defensive lapses. But could David de Gea's poor attempt to keep out the third goal cost him his starting spot?

The Spanish goalkeeper didn't cover himself in glory with his attempt to block Justin Kluivert's decisive close-range finish and with Dean Henderson putting pressure on United's long-term No 1, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be set to make a big call ahead of United's clash with Manchester City on Saturday.

Henderson replaced De Gea against Southampton when he picked up a knock and played all 90 minutes in last weekend's 3-1 win over West Ham. Sky Sports News James Cooper - appearing on the Pitch to Post Preview Podcast - now believes there is a real chance 23-year-old Henderson could be handed a first-team place for the derby.

Listen to the Sky Sports Pitch to Post Podcast on: Spotify | Apple | Castbox