Lisandro Martinez’s phased return for Manchester United might not have come at a better time after Ruben Amorim faces a problem with another important figure.
The 27-year-old Argentine defender spent the second half of the 2024-25 campaign and the opening months of the 2025-26 season on the sidelines due to an injury.
Lisandro Martinez was spotted warming up at Old Trafford ahead of his long awaited comeback!
Lisandro Martinez sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his knee last February and the Manchester United defender later underwent surgery as well.
The 2022 World Cup winner completed an extensive rehabilitation programme on his own before returning to the United first team for training back in October.
Martinez received an incredible reception from United fans after he made his first Premier League appearance of the campaign against Crystal Palace last month.
Lisandro Martinez’s role for Ruben Amorim is now more essential than ever before amid one Man Utd player’s absence
Lisandro Martinez has played in three Premier League matches since his return from injury and all of his appearances have come from the bench for Manchester United.
Ruben Amorim is providing the Argentina international with the time to effectively integrate himself back into the first-team fold and has been building up his minutes.
Should Lisandro Martinez be an automatic starter for Man Utd? Whose place does he take?
Martinez’s longest cameo came on Monday evening in United’s 4-1 thumping of Wolves, with the Red Devils defender playing 21 minutes at the Molineux.
The ex-Ajax ace replaced Noussair Mazraoui in the 69th minute and Martinez put in a steady shift in the three-man backline of Amorim’s tactical system for United.
Martinez still appears a long way off from starting for the Red Devils or playing the full 90 minutes, but the United defender’s presence is needed more than ever.
Ruben Amorim’s concern around the injured Matthijs de Ligt is exactly why Lisandro Martinez is needed for Man Utd
United manager Amorim has been without Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt due to injuries and the Red Devils have lacked a key figure in the backline of the defence.
Ayden Heaven has stepped in to help plug the void left behind and the 19-year-old talent did impress in United’s Premier League win over Wolves at the Molineux.
However, Matthijs de Ligt is a big miss for United and even Amorim admitted that he is unsure of the time frame of when the former Ajax star will return for his side.
Manchester United’s WIN RATE with and without Lisandro Martinez! 🇦🇷
Manchester United win 58.2% of games Lisandro Martinez plays vs 43.8% when he does not feature
Do you think Lisandro Martinez should be an automatic starter ahead of Luke Shaw when he is fully fit?
When asked about any updates on the 26-year-old Dutchman, Amorim responded: “I don’t know. I don’t know.”
As per Manchester United’s official website, Amorim added in his post-match press conference on Monday: “Sometimes you have an idea, but then you have to see there day by day.
“So, I’m not going to say that when he’s going to be back.”
De Ligt’s absence is a major blow for United, but Martinez’s return could be enough to help plug the void even further until the former Bayern Munich defender’s return.
Even if he is limited to cameo appearances, Martinez could help United shut out matches and keep the backline from falling apart in the second half of matches.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/VtXlwIi