Man Utd suffer a fourth injury scare during worrying international break | Football
Manchester United could have yet another injury concern with Lisandro Martinez reportedly carrying a knock.
Martinez was dropped from the United starting XI in the final game before the international break against Aston Villa.
While Erik ten Hag claimed that decision was down to rotation, the 26-year-old was also overlooked when the manager was forced into second-half changes at the back with Harry Maguire and Noussair Mazraoui forced off.
Martinez has travelled back to South America for World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia. But TYC Sports report there is likely to be no room for the United star in the starting XI with Nicolas Otamendi and River Plate’s German Pezzella set to be selected at centre-half.
Tottenham’s Cristian Romero will serve a suspension for tonight’s game along with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Argentine journalist Esteban Edul reports there is a ‘physical concern’ with the United defender that ‘is not leaving him in good shape’.
Martinez endured an injury-hit 2023-24 season, his second in Manchester after arriving from Ajax the previous year.
The centre-half was sidelined in September last year after suffering a recurrence of a foot injury, requiring surgery for a second time in the space of six months.
He returned to action in January but just four games later, he was sidelined once again after suffering a knee injury in the victory over West Ham United in early February. He returned at the end of the season, helping United win the FA Cup.
United are already monitoring a number of injury concerns that have emerged during the international break. Martinez’s countryman Alejandro Garnacho pulled out of the Argentina squad on Monday due to a knee problem with Kobbie Mainoo also withdrawing from the England squad.
Amad Diallo is another to have returned to Manchester early, leaving the Ivory Coast camp on Wednesday.
Noussair Mazraoui meanwhile has undergone surgery after experiencing heart palpitations and is expected to be unavailable for the next few weeks.