A return for Memphis or Mata up front? How Man Utd could line up without Martial & Rooney?

Posted Saturday, November 21, 2015 by Goal.com

The Frenchman picked up a knock to his left foot while on international duty and the England captain is ill, so where does Louis van Gaal turn now against Watford?

There were hearts in mouths all across Manchester United's fanbase on Tuesday when the sight of Anthony Martial leaving Wembley on crutches was broadcast across the globe.

The striker left the field in the 67th minute of France's international friendly against England, shortly after picking up a knock to his foot which left him limping around for a few moments before his withdrawal. Although he appeared to have shaken off the injury by the time he was withdrawn for Antoine Griezmann, Martial appeared unable to put any weight on his left foot as he exited the stadium with his team-mates.

And while there were some questions as to who would fill the void left by the teenager, it was widely assumed that Wayne Rooney would return to the central striking role in which he has struggled for much of the campaign.

But with the England captain now ruled out of Saturday's trip to Watford through illness and Marouane Fellaini also missing due to injury, United are left with just one recognised forward in their squad - James Wilson. But will Louis van Gaal show faith in the academy graduate? And what are his other options?

Wilson failed to impress in his last outing against Middlesbrough in the League Cup and Louis van Gaal has even admitted that the England Under-21s international will be unable to fulfil 90 minutes at Vicarage Road.

But without Fellaini to help cover the absence of Rooney and Martial, the youngster is the only natural attacking spearhead available to Van Gaal unless he looks to deploy one of his other attacking players in an unfamiliar role.

Elsewhere, Ander Herrera is likely to slot into the No.10 role vacated by Rooney while Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger are set to be partnered in midfield, with Michael Carrick ruled out with an ankle injury picked up on international duty.