Anthony Martial will miss ten weeks of action after an operation on the Manchester United striker's groin injury.

Out of contract in the summer, time is running out for the Frenchman to save his Old Trafford career amid reports the club will not activate a 12-month option to extend his stay.

Martial has been absent since mid-December, initially due to illness before it was revealed he had suffered an injury to his groin.

On Wednesday, United announced that the 28-year-old had undergone surgery to address the issue, placing a ten-week timeframe for his return.

A statement read: "We wish Anthony a speedy recovery and look forward to his return."

However, Martial will have only a handful of games to convince the Red Devils to hand him a new contract - or impress a potential new club - once he returns.

In just over ten weeks' time, United host Liverpool in the Premier League on April 6.

That starts a run of the final seven games of the league season, and also includes a potential appearance in the FA Cup semi-finals and final.

Martial has managed only two goals this campaign, which had prompted talk of a January transfer to a new team.

Recently, his agent, Philippe Lamboley, quashed that speculation and the player's injury has now terminated any such possibility.

He said: "Anthony will not leave Manchester United and will stay until his contract ends in June. What is said about him is completely false. He was not excluded from the group and he has no problem with the coach.

"Anthony has been in Manchester for nine seasons and if he was not a great professional then he would not have been at the club for so long.

"He is simply going to undergo a small operation on his adductors, which he should have done for a while and which did not allow him to be 100 per cent, so he will do it now."