Lisandro Martinez injury latest as potential Manchester United return date revealed
The latest Man Utd injury news and potential return date for one of their most important players.
Lisandro Martinez hopes to return to action for Manchester United after the September international break.
The 27-year-old has not played since he suffered a serious knee injury during the 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace on 2 February when he went down in agony after an innocuous clash with Ismaila Sarr. Martinez subsequently underwent a successful operation on his cruciate ligament injury, with no precise timeline placed on his return to action.
Due to the severity of the injury, initial estimates suggested he could be out for any time between six months and a full year. United and Martinez do not want to take any unnecessary risks with his return to action and he will not be made available for selection until he is at peak physical condition again.
Martinez has yet to return to team training but has travelled to the United States for their pre-season tour, where he is undergoing an individual rehabilitation programme. Ruben Amorim views the Argentine as a key part of his first-team squad and believes it is important to have him around the dressing room for morale and leadership.
It has now been suggested Martinez will definitely miss the first three matches of the new Premier League season but could potentially return to the matchday squad when they face Man City in mid-September. United begin the new campaign at home to Arsenal, before an away trip to face Fulham and a home clash with Burnley. After the September international break, they face Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool during a five-game spell that also sees them take on both Brentford and Sunderland.
A more precise timeline should be provided closer to the time and United sources have reiterated they will not take unnecessary risks during his rehabilitation regime. Martinez will be gradually eased back into first-team training and could even feature for the U21s in order to build his fitness before he is deemed ready for senior action.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Talk of the Devils podcast, The Athletic reporter Laurie Whitwell provided a brief update on both Martinez and teammate Andre Onana. “Lisandro Martinez is on the tour, but the expectation is that he will miss the first three games of the Premier League at least. I was told previously he [Andre Onana] was hoping to be fit for the Arsenal game.”
Onana was ruled out of the club's pre-season schedule due to a hamstring injury he suffered in training. It is understood that the Cameroonian has responded well to initial treatment and is on course to return to action for the opening weekend of the new season.
MOST READ: Manchester United dream starting line up with three more signings planned after Bryan Mbeumo deal