Manchester United vs Huddersfield: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explains Anthony Martial's absence

Anthony Martial was not named in the matchday squad at Old Trafford

Anthony Martial has not been included in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first Old Trafford matchday squad as Manchester United’s caretaker manager after falling ill.

Martial was not pictured travelling with the squad to Old Trafford for the Boxing Day clash with Huddersfield Town and was not named either in Solskjaer’s starting line-up or on the substitutes’ bench.

Solskjaer told MUTV, United’s in-house media channel, that Martial fell ill over Christmas and was not in a fit state to play.

“He must have had a bad chef over Christmas,” Solskjaer said. “If it’s food poisoning or something. I don’t know, but he has fallen ill over Christmas.”

The Norwegian has made three changes in total to the side which beat Cardiff City 5-1 at the weekend, with Diogo Dalot and Fred coming into the line-up.

Ander Herrera, who scored United’s second in Cardiff, and Ashley Young were dropped to the substitutes’ bench and joined by youngster Angel Gomes.

Romelu Lukaku was once again left out of the matchday squad after reportedly being granted a period of compassionate leave by the club.

Huddersfield made three changes, with Elias Kachunga, Laurent Depoitre and Erik Durm coming into David Wagner’s side after the 3-1 defeat to Southampton.

Line-ups

Manchester United: De Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Jones, Shaw; Matic, Fred, Pogba; Mata, Lingard, Rashford.

Substitutes: Romero, Bailly, Young, Herrera, Pereira, Fellaini, Gomes.

Huddersfield Town: Lossl; Kongolo, Zanka, Schindler; Hadergjonaj, Billing, Pritchard, Kachunga, Durm; Mbenza, Depoitre.

Substitutes: Hamer, Hogg, Bacuna, Lowe, Quaner, Mounie, Stankovic.

Referee: J Moss (West Yorkshire)