Erik ten Hag sends fitness message to Manchester United's forwards

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is hoping Anthony Martial and his other first-team strikers will be able to feature more regularly when the Premier League season resumes.

Martial, 27, has only played seven matches this campaign in all competitions. However, in those outings, the France international has netted four goals and provided two assists for his teammates.

Fit enough to start against Fulham before the mid-season break, Martial has flown out to Spain with United for the warm-weather training camp that will also see them play two games. Cadiz and Real Betis are set to take on Martial and co this Wednesday (7pm) and Saturday (5pm).

Other first-team squad members on the trip include David de Gea, Victor Lindelof and Scott McTominay while that man Martial has shaken off three different injury problems already this season. Jadon Sancho and Antony have been unavailable at times, too, as the club look to move on from Cristiano Ronaldo in attacking quarters.

Needless to say, having Martial back came as welcome news to Ten Hag, especially after the former Ajax manager put so much faith in him when he has been fit enough to feature. Martial was at a crossroads in his United career in the summer, but Ten Hag wanted him to stay and shaped his plans around him.

During an interview with MUFC media, Ten Hag said: "[We are here] Not to keep fit, but to get fitter and to improve fitness levels. If we see this season, especially in the front line, we didn't always have the players available.

"When they were available, they were not always capable of being at the right fitness levels to compete. This is an important objective, to fill that gap, to close that gap and [make sure] we are better after the winter for the restart.

"[We want] To be better, to compete and match fitness levels in the Premier League and in the top-four."