Defender gives injury update on Man Utd team-mate after 1-0 win vs Wolves

Raphael Varane has revealed his defensive partner Lisandro Martinez was replaced with a knock in Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night.

The Argentinian was taken off at half-time, with Erik ten Hag not explaining the decision after the match. Many presumed it was due to Martinez’s first-half booking, and the ex-Ajax man was forced to pull out of a challenge in the latter stages of the opening 45 minutes, resulting in a Wolves counter attack.

Yet after the game Varane explained that was not the case, with Martinez withdrawn due to a minor injury. "A little problem on his ankle, tendon,” the Frenchman told BBC Sport. “We’ll see but I don’t think it’s a big deal. We’ll see how he is this week."

It was Varane who scored the only goal of the game at Old Trafford as United began the 2023/24 campaign with three points. The 30-year-old netted just his second-ever United goal, after he turned in Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross in the 76th minute.

It was the defenders who impressed for the Red Devils on their return to Premier League action, with Wan-Bissaka and Andre Onana earning ManchesterWorld’s highest player ratings, although the latter was fortunate not to conceded an injury-time penalty after he clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic in the box.

Varane and Luke Shaw also put in solid showings at the back for United, although Martinez did underwhelm in a first-half display that saw him booked for a challenge on Pedro Neto, pull out a subsequent challenge to avoid a second yellow, and was too easily beaten by Matheus Cunha in the middle of the pitch.

Despite that, Erik ten Hag will hope the defender is fit in time for United’s next clash, which comes away to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.