Lisandro Martinez is expected to make a comeback to the Manchester United roster when under-fire Erik ten Hag’s team plays Newcastle.
The important Argentina center-back has made only 11 appearances since breaking his metatarsal in April of last year, which has made matters worse for the Red Devils’ injured defense.
Martinez suffered his second foot surgery in October after making a comeback to start the season, only to be sidelined by calf and knee strains soon after.
Martinez has been sidelined for the last six weeks due to the latter problem, but he is expected to boost United when he rejoins the team for their season-ending home game.
On the eve of the Newcastle match, Ten Hag predicted that Licha Martinez will rejoin the team.
He has completed a few sessions with us, and if all goes according to plan in the training this afternoon, we want to have him accessible. He’ll be back on the team.
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“Then, if they are healthy enough, we need to see (Marcus) Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, and Willy Kambwala.”
With center backs Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Raphael Varane out and left backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia injured, Martinez’s return provides a much-needed boost to a very thin defense.
The latter made it known that he will be departing United when his contract expires at the end of the season on the eve of the game against Newcastle.
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Independent reports that Varane has only made 93 appearances in his three seasons at Old Trafford due to injuries; his most recent appearance occurred during last month’s dramatic 4-3 loss to Chelsea.
When asked if the 2018 World Cup winner and former France defender had played his final game for the team, Ten Hag replied, “We are definitely planning for the last games.”
“We hope for Sunday instead of tomorrow, and then, of course, for the final game.”
United will play Newcastle, close off a miserable Premier League season at Brighton, and try to finish the season strong in the FA Cup.
The Red Devils, who are trying to avoid losing three games in a row and have a considerably worse goal differential than both teams, are three points behind the sixth-placed Magpies and seventh-placed Chelsea.
The game is obviously very significant, Ten Hag, the manager under duress, stated. “Take a look at the rankings; winning is crucial.
“We must fight hard and give it everything we have in order to win.”
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