Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that the Red Devils "will be cautious" when it comes to the fitness of Anthony Martial.

The 27-year-old has only made 14 appearances for the 20-time English champions during the 2022-23 campaign, having struggled with a number of injury problems.

Martial, who has six goals and two assists to his name at club level this term, has struggled with hamstring, Achilles, back and muscular issues, while he has recently been unavailable due to a hip complaint.

The Frenchman's last appearance was against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup at the start of February, but he has recently returned to first-team training.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with Southampton, Ten Hag revealed that there is a chance of the striker being available for this weekend's contest.

However, the Dutchman added that Man United "will be cautious" due to his struggles to stay fit.

"Yeah (could Martial return against Southampton), but I think, all the time, we had a good plan and until now it [didn't] always [work well]. But he is on his way back, he is back in training, but we will be cautious, yeah," Ten Hag told reporters.

Christian Eriksen, meanwhile, has been sidelined with an ankle injury since the end of January, having been on the receiving end of a late challenge by Andy Carroll.

Ten Hag has said that the Denmark international will "definitely" be back before the end of the campaign, but he was unable to put an exact timeframe on the midfielder's return.

"I think he [Eriksen] will play [again in 2022/23]. Definitely. But I can't tell now an expectation, but I think his progress in the rehab is okay. It is going according to plan, so definitely we will see him. But not before the international break.

"Yes, he is [still part of the group]. But of course, his main focus is, in this moment, to get back as soon as possible because we need all the players."

Marcel Sabitzer remains a doubt for the clash with Southampton due to the injury that forced him to miss Thursday's Europa League contest with Real Betis.

Meanwhile, Donny van de Beek will be out for the remainder of the season following knee surgery.

Ten Hag's side bounced back from their 7-0 loss at Liverpool in the Premier League by recording a 4-1 victory over Real Betis in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie at Old Trafford on Thursday night. body check tags ::