Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez will be out injured for 8 weeks, the club have announced.
The Argentinian suffered a knee scare after a collision with Vladimir Coufal in United’s 3-0 win against West Ham United on Sunday.
Manager Erik Ten Hag after the game was pessimistic about the injury, adding:
"”It doesn’t look good. There is a bad concern. We have to wait for a few days for the diagnosis. He is very sad, very disappointed. We all feel really with him.”"
The diagnosis has come rather soon as he does not require surgery, and it has been confirmed by the club that Martinez has not suffered an ACL injury. However, he has sustained significant knee ligament damage that will keep him out of action until April.
The club announcement 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.”"Man Utd statement on Martinez
The World Cup winner only returned in the 2-2 draw against Tottenham in January, after being out for months at the back end of the 2022/23 campaign with a foot injury, and later suffering a setback at the beginning of this season.
Red Devil Armada’s verdict:
United’s progressional play is absolutely enhanced with the presence of Martinez. It is high,y bad luck for the club and especially Erik Ten Hag, who was hopeful on having a near fully fit squad at some point this month, that arguably his best player will not be available for selection in a crucial period where United chase a Champions League spot in the Premier League.
It will now rest on Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire’s shoulder predominantly to deliver the goods at the heart of the team until Martinez is ready to return.