Manchester United could be without Lisandro Martinez until December amid fears the £57million defender requires a second surgery this year on a debilitating foot problem. Martinez reportedly may go under the knife after missing United’s last two games in the latest significant injury blow for Erik ten Hag.
According to Sky Sports, the 25-year-old has aggravated the metatarsal injury that prematurely ended his first season at Old Trafford.
He broke the bone in April but took part across pre-season and started the 2023/24 campaign next to Raphael Varane in Ten Hag’s defence.
But Martinez’s form has been a concern, and it has now emerged that he has been carrying an issue in the opening months.
United have confirmed Martinez played through the injury in defeats to Brighton and Hove Albion and Bayern Munich after the September international break.
However, he was absent in the wins against Burnley and Crystal Palace over the last week, and his prolonged spell on the sidelines has now been confirmed.
The report claims United’s medical staff are currently assessing how to approach Martinez’s recovery, and a second operation is being considered as the most suitable play.
It would rule Martinez out until December, adding to Ten Hag’s unprecedented early-season injury crisis.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Sergio Reguilon are all out of action, joining Kobbie Mainoo and Amad on the injury table.
Varane, Harry Maguire, Sofyan Amrabat, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund have also endured spells on the sidelines this term.
Ten Hag has, too, been without Jadon Sancho and Antony for a period of the campaign due to non-football reasons.
Not many absentees cause as much concern as Martinez, though, given the Argentina international is Ten Hag’s first-choice central defender.
Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans are available options to partner Varane, while Shaw is also a possibility once he’s back in action.
If Martinez is missing until December, he would miss at least 12 fixtures, seven of them in the Premier League.
United are set to be without their No 6 for league games against Palace, Brentford, Sheffield United, Manchester City, Fulham, Luton Town and Everton.
He will also likely miss the Carabao Cup fourth-round clash with Newcastle United and home and away meetings with Galatasaray and Copenhagen in the Champions League group stage.
Ten Hag regularly stresses the importance of focusing on his available players, though. And United will be locked in on sealing a third successive triumph against Palace on Saturday.
