Erik ten Hag is set to benefit from Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez being ready for the start of pre-season this summer.
With many of Manchester United’s players still away due to international involvement in June, it is a stroke of fortune that Erik ten Hag has two World Cup winners available for the very start of pre-season.
The United boss may reflect that he is due some good luck, having seen Lisandro Martinez suffer a metatarsal injury in early April which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
The injury was a turning point in United’s Europa League elimination to Sevilla, and he also missed the FA Cup final, a game in which his absence was sorely felt.
Martinez reunited with Varane
Raphael Varane suffered an injury in the same game as Martinez, and while he did recover later in the campaign to nullify Erling Haaland in the cup final, it wasn’t quite enough for United to win the game.
Varane is available early after quitting international football earlier this year, and this is a moment where Manchester United are set to reap the benefits of that decision.
Martinez and Varane established themselves last season as Manchester United’s first choice pairing.
It is a major boost for Erik ten Hag to get both players back together so early on in pre-season.
This is Martinez’s first pre-season with United and only Varane’s second. Getting the chance for them to work on their partnership early on will be key, especially when new incoming goalkeeper Andre Onana joins up with the squad.
It was the defensive work of the duo last season which contributed so much to David de Gea’s Golden Glove. They will be an important shield for Onana, and both of them should benefit from the Cameroon international’s play with the ball at his feet.
Varane shared an image of the pair at Carrington, writing on Instagram: “We’re back !! Rested, recharged, ready to go. Time to push ourselves physically and mentally to the limit. Let’s get to work.”
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Even tougher for Maguire and Lindelof
The early presence of Varane and Martinez in pre-season is not so great news for Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire.
Both players are essentially back-ups, although they would like to change this and win their places back. Lindelof in particular ended last season strongly.
Their chances are even tougher with Ten Hag’s first choice duo reunited and bedding in back at Carrington already.
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