Anthony Martial: Manchester United forward's agent hits out at training reports and confirms January stay

Anthony Martial's agent has denied the striker was told to train alone by Erik ten Hag and has revealed he needs surgery instead.

The 28-year-old striker hasn't played since picking up a sickness bug after Manchester United's 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth on 9 December.

Ten Hag simply said the France international was not fit before United's 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Sunday, with further reports suggesting he was told to train alone having returned unfit from illness.

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However, his agent Philippe Lamboley denied the reports and claimed a previously unknown hip injury needs surgery. "What is said about him is completely false," Lamboley told SkySports.

"He was not excluded from the group and has no problem with the coach, Erik ten Hag. Anthony has been in Manchester for nine seasons and if he wasn't a great professional, he wouldn't have been at the club for so long.

"He is simply going to undergo a small operation on his abductors, which he should have done for a while and which hasn't allowed him to be 100 per cent, so he will do it now."

Lamboley added about his client's future: "Anthony will not leave and will stay until his contract ends in June."

Martial's long-term future at Old Trafford remains in doubt after another injury-hit season where he has made just five league starts and scored two goals in all competitions.