Manchester United have officially announced that both Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez have been ruled out of action for at least a month with muscle problems in a massive double blow for Erik ten Hag.
Victor Lindelof, 29, suffered a hamstring problem during the second half of Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Brentford on Saturday evening. The Sweden skipper was forced off in the 69th minute and replaced by Lisandro Martinez, 26, who made his first appearance for the club since early February. Unluckily, the Argentinean World Cup winner has now sustained a calf problem in training and will be unavailable for selection for the next few games, as per the club’s official statement.
Both Lindelof and Martinez should be back before the end of the season but they will miss the upcoming Premier League games against Chelsea and Liverpool as well as the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City. Their untimely injury problems gives manager Erik ten Hag a potential defensive crisis for the midweek trip to Chelsea, with Raphael Varane deemed doubtful after he was substituted at half-time against Brentford in a precautionary move. In addition, Jonny Evans’ participation against Chelsea also remains doubtful after missing Man United’s last two games.
Harry Maguire is the only fit senior central defender at the manager’s disposal, and if Evans and Varane fail to prove their fitness ahead of Thursday’s game, Ten Hag is likely to turn to teenager Willy Kambwala to partner Maguire at the heart of his team’s defence.
Red Devil Armada’s verdict:
It is a shame that both Martinez and Lindelof have sustained muscle injuries and will miss upcoming key games at this business end of the campaign, as we look to overhaul Aston Villa and Tottenham for a place in the top four. Injuries have clearly spoiled Man United’s campaign and the latest double blow is a bitter pill to swallow for Ten Hag and his team.
Let us hope our remaining fit centre-backs Maguire, Varane, Evans and Kambwala stay injury free from now on until the end of the campaign and help us achieve a top four spot as well as win the FA Cup.