Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has given fans hope with a fresh update on his recovery from a long-term ACL injury. Martinez injured his knee in a home defeat to Crystal Palace in February, sidelining him and leaving Ruben Amorim short of defensive stability in his debut season.
Lisandro Martinez posts recovery update
The 27-year-old posted an image of himself running at Carrington with the club physio Ibrahim Kerem on Instagram on Wednesday. It is the first time fans had seen the Argentine back on the grass, a big step forward from months of gym-based rehabilitation.
ACL injuries usually require about eight months to recover, putting a realistic return date during late October or early November. United welcome his recovery but have not announced a firm return date. Still, Amorim and his team are wary of rushing the process backfiring, with the manager underling the importance of not suffering any setbacks in rehab.
Defensive issues for Amorim
United’s defensive record underlines how vital Martinez’s return could be. The team has failed to keep a clean sheet across their opening five fixtures in all competitions, with costly lapses leaving Amorim searching for answers. United have confirmed that Saturday’s clash against Chelsea comes too soon for him, and the manager will provide another update in his pre-match press conference.
The wider injury picture is also a concern, with Matheus Cunha, Diogo Dalot and Mason Mount all sidelined during last weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. That result further highlighted United’s lack of organisation at the back without Martinez.
Author’s Opinion
Martinez’s return could be key for United’s season. Fans have missed not only his famous crunching tackles and sharp organisational skills but also his leadership on the pitch. United cannot allow urgency to override trepidation. Rushing him would risk aggravating the injury, while postponing his return would prolong the team’s season-long defensive woes.
