Manchester United given huge boost ahead of Watford clash

Manchester United stars Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial have returned from holiday to help the club’s push for a top-four Premier League finish.

Both players started United’s last game – a 2-1 FA Cup defeat at Wolves – but Martial was forced to withdraw from the France squad for their games against Moldova and Iceland with a knee injury.

Lingard had not been considered for Gareth Southgate’s England squad due to his own fitness issues.

And the attacking midfielder has spent most of the international break in Dubai, where he has undergone a club-guided fitness regime designed to improve his conditioning.

Lingard aggravated his injury when he returned to the United starting lineup for their goalless draw with Liverpool at Old Trafford on February 24.

And although he played 86 minutes against Wolves at Molineux, it was decided that he was still short of match fitness.
He has posted snippets of his regime on social media having filmed a video of himself training on a trampoline, using an exercise bike and taking part in a crossbar challenge.

Martial has also been in Dubai as he enjoyed a warm weather break with his fiancee Melanie Da Cruz.

He had earned a recall to the France squad due to his fine form at United this season, but was forced to withdraw due a knee problem he suffered at Molineux.

Tokeo la picha la lingard

Both players flew into Manchester Airport from the United Arab Emirates, with Lingard landing on Sunday evening and his teammate Martial, and Da Cruz, touching down on Monday morning.

Their return to the United team would represent a timely boost as interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer battles a lengthy injury list.

Luke Shaw withdrew from the England squad due to a knock, while Marcus Rashford is carrying an ankle problem and both Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic returned early because of fitness issues.

United take on Watford at Old Trafford on Saturday.

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