Manchester United remains cautiously optimistic about Lisandro Martínez’s return timeline, hoping the Argentine center-back can make his way back to the pitch before the end of the year.Eight months have passed since Martínez suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and the 27-year-old has yet to join the team for joint
training sessions.
Although he started outdoor individual training at the end of the pre-season tour in late July, he is still in the phase of personal training as per his rehabilitation plan. It is understood that the club’s medical team may consider arranging for him to gradually integrate into the team squad only after the conclusion of the November international break.
Since joining the club in July 2022, the Argentine international has been plagued by major injuries over the past three years: he suffered a metatarsal fracture in April 2023, underwent corrective surgery five months later, and did not return until January the following year; at the end of last season, he was sidelined for an extended period due to a calf injury, and finally suffered an ACL tear in the 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace in February this year.
In Martínez’s absence, Luke Shaw has started as left center-back in seven consecutive Premier League matches under manager Rúben Amorim’s three-center-back system. As the manager insists on having a left-footed player guard the left flank, the English international—who originally plays as a left-back—has been successfully converted into a full-time center-back.
Last month, Amorim publicly expressed his longing for Martínez: “Players who suffer such a major injury usually go through two phases—the initial phase of rapid recovery and the subsequent plateau phase of rehabilitation. We particularly need the defensive aggression he brings; he attends every team meeting, and after finishing his individual training, he often stays to observe the team's joint training sessions. We urgently need him back.”
