Ten Hag: Ronaldo will not accept ban

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag said Cristiano Ronaldo will not accept the English Football Association's charge of "improper and/or violent" following an incident that relates to his behaviour at Everton last season.

Video footage showed the 37-year-old appearing to knock a fan’s mobile phone to the ground after United’s 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park on 9 April, for which the Portuguese was cautioned by Merseyside Police.

Ronaldo had until Monday to respond to the FA charge and Ten Hag said: "We talked about that and he will not accept it."

Meanwhile ten Hag feels sorry for Anthony Martial after the improving Manchester United forward was side-lined by his third different injury of the season.

The 26-year-old's Old Trafford future looked to be over when he joined Sevilla in January for an ultimately underwhelming six-month loan stint.

But ten Hag’s summer arrival injected new life into Martial’s United career, with the France international starting up front in all four matches during the pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia.

A hamstring injury in the final friendly would see him miss the start of the season, before he sustained an Achilles issue and was then forced off with a back complaint in Sunday’s 2-1 win at Everton.

"Not (training) today," manager Ten Hag said ahead of Thursday’s Europa League match against Omonia Nicosia. "We will see how he develops to Sunday (when United play Newcastle).

"I’ve had several talks with him about that (run of injuries). I’m really disappointed for him.

"I think from the quality in all the minutes he played he did very well, also Sunday.

"He played well, good assist for Antony for the first goal, but also in the pressing he was really good.

"I think he was an important factor that