The 25-year-old limped out of France’s World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan last weekend, and missed Sunday’s Premier League win over Brighton.

Martial was conspicuous by his absence from the squad and Solskjaer now expects to be without the United forward for a key period.

Solskjaer said: “Unfortunately he’s sprained his knee with France. It’s always when they go away on internationals, you’ve fingers crossed and you hope that they’re going to come back fit.

“Paul (Pogba) played in all three games – 30, 60, 90 minutes – so that was a boost for us but losing Anthony for what might be the rest of the season is very disappointing, especially when the reports and signals are from there that it wasn’t serious but it looks a bad one, yeah.”

“We hope to get him back before the end of the season but we’re not sure.”

Soskjaer was speaking after a goal from Mason Greenwood completed a hard-fought comeback win against Brighton as United strengthened their grip on second spot.

United academy graduate Danny Welbeck put the visitors on course for their first ever victory at Old Trafford, only for Marcus Rashford and Greenwood to seal a 2-1 triumph.

This match was far less dramatic than the Red Devils’ 3-2 win in September’s reverse fixture but Graham Potter’s men made the hosts sweat.

Dean Henderson was chosen ahead of David De Gea for Sunday’s match and did well to repel a point-blank header from Welbeck, only for the former United striker to direct home the rebound in the 13th minute.

Spurs held

Joe Willock came off the bench to hand Newcastle a Premier League lifeline as they fought back to snatch a 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

Harry Kane’s double looked to have handed Spurs a sixth win at St James’ Park in seven visits when he struck twice inside four first-half minutes after Joelinton’s opener with his 28th and 29th goals of the season.

However, Steve Bruce’s beleaguered side turned in a gritty display which was rewarded when, seconds after Kane had hit the post, Arsenal loanee Willock smashed home an 85th-minute equaliser to claim a 2-2 draw and a point which could prove crucial in the fight for top-flight survival.

Bruce’s starting line-up raised eyebrows as Matt Ritchie was included among five changes for the first time since his training ground bust-up with the head coach, while there was a seat on the bench for Allan Saint-Maximin following his recovery from a groin injury, although not for leading scorer Callum Wilson.

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