The Argentine defender is one of United’s best players but his injury record is a concern
Lisandro Martinez is expected to be out for only a week or two following a calf injury that kept him out of Manchester United’s game against Everton on Monday, the club have confirmed.
The Argentine suffered an ACL injury last year and was sidelined for nine months after having surgery, in a period he described as “day by day a constant struggle”, and during which he considered quitting football.
Martinez returned to action in November and has been a regular in the squad since. He has started every game under Michael Carrick save Monday’s 1-0 win over Everton due to his injury.
The 28-year-old’s line-breaking passing from centre-back is a special and valuable gift for a United side with very few top-level passers, so Martinez always transforms the team when he plays.
Lisandro Martinez is like a quarterback 🏈@ManUtd 🔴 pic.twitter.com/J3rPKVLiwM
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 5, 2026
Indeed, his long injury absence under Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim could be argued to have played a part in the unsatisfactory results that ultimately earned both managers the sack.
Carrick has paired Martinez with Harry Maguire in defence, keeping two clean sheets in five games, but it is those precise passes forward into advanced attacking positions that double his value and make him such an important asset for the Red Devils.
In Martinez’s absence at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, youngster Leny Yoro was recalled to the starting lineup. United also kept a clean sheet, although gratitude will be turned mostly in the direction of goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who had another outstanding game.
United need Martinez fit. The club have significantly improved their medical and fitness strategy this season to keep as many players as fit as possible, and Martinez should surely be among them.
His injury record is a concern. He has missed 91 games for club and country since he joined United in 2022, according to Transfermarkt. If it is business as usual when he returns a week or two from here, there is a high chance he will suffer yet another setback.
Monitoring the player, and managing his minutes if need be, should surely be among United’s priorities until the end of the season, if they are to maintain their charge to finish in the top three or four. Beyond that, it is difficult to say.
