Sources have told HITC that Manchester United ‘hope’ defender Lisandro Martinez will play again this season, but they ‘fear’ he won’t.
The Argentine international has only just returned to full fitness after missing most of the 2023/24 campaign with a foot injury.
However, after just four games back – Martinez has suffered another major setback after suffering a knee injury in the 68th minute in their 3-0 win at West Ham United on Sunday.
Manchester United have now confirmed in a club statement that Martinez will now miss at ‘least’ two months with an injury to his medial collateral.
Statement
The statement issued via their website read: “Lisandro Martinez has sustained an injury to the medial collateral ligament in his knee and is expected to be out of action for at least eight weeks.
“The Argentine defender left the field in the 71st minute of our 3-0 win over West Ham United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
“We all wish Licha a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back on the pitch later in the season.”
Fears
Sources with knowledge of the situation have now told HITC that the club hope the 26-year-old will be back to play some part in the final weeks of the season, also admitted that there is a ‘real fear’ that the South American star will not play again this season.
United manager Erik Ten Hag admitted that Martinez was ‘very disappointed’ to have picked up his latest injury.
“He is very sad, very disappointed,” Ten Hag said after Sunday’s game.
“We all feel really with him. First of all it is a personal disaster when it is really bad but also for the team it is really bad because he definitely brings us a lot.”
United came in for some criticism from supporters after Martinez sustained an injury against Arsenal earlier this season, then headed out on international duty and did not play, before being selected as a starter in games against Brighton and Bayern Munich. He then underwent an operation on the foot injury.
Martinez was pictured in light training for Manchester United in early December, but only made his return for the club in mid-January against Tottenham, with the club treading cautiously, and they will not want to rush him back from this knee injury.
Even if Martinez does not play again this season, the injury to his knee is less severe than the feared ACL tear, which could have ruled him out for the whole of 2024.
The post Sources: United fear season-ending injury for star defender despite club statement appeared first on HITC.
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