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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

RB Leipzig vs Manchester United: Cavani, Martial ruled out

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that United will be without Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial in Tuesday's crunch Champions League clash in Germany.

RB Leipzig vs Manchester United: Cavani, Martial ruled out
Getty Images

Manchester United pair Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial have been ruled out of the Red Devils' Champions League clash with RB Leipzig on Tuesday.

Both forwards were substituted during Saturday's 3-1 Premier League victory at West Ham, where United fought back from a half-time deficit to win through goals from Paul Pogba, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford.

Cavani, Martial out, but De Gea and Shaw return to contention

Manager Ole Gunnar Soslskjaer had hoped the injuries would be short-term but he confirmed on Monday that neither Cavani nor Martial will travel to Germany.

There was some good news, however, with David de Gea available again after missing the West Ham win and Luke Shaw back in the travelling squad after missing a month of action with a hamstring problem.

"David's back in, Luke is travelling, Edinson and Anthony [have] only minor niggles but they won't be making the trip," Solskjaer told reporters.

With Cavani and Martial out and Rashford battling a shoulder issue, much of the goalscoring burden will fall on 19-year-old Greenwood.

Greenwood has scored 20 goals in all competitions since the start of 2019-20, which is twice as many as any other teenager playing for a Premier League side.

However, minor injury problems and reports of concern around his application in training and recovery have limited his impact this term, with his strike against West Ham his only goal in seven league appearances.

Solskjaer talks up "exciting" Manchester United youngster Greenwood

Still, Solskjaer has full confidence in the forward as he prepares his side for a game knowing that a draw will be enough to guarantee their place in the last 16.

"Mason's a very talented forward," Solskjaer said. "He's one of the best finishers I've worked with and when we can provide chances for him or he creates chances for himself with his movement, we've got a good chance for scoring goals.

"He's still young, still learning and he'll only improve with the quality and experience of the characters we have around him. He's exciting to work with.

"You get to the last game of the group stage and you're in the next round if you go and win that game or draw, so it's an important game, of course it is."