Lisandro Martinez Sidelined: The Real Reason Behind His Absence from Man Utd's Everton Clash

Manchester United had to field their team without Lisandro Martínez for the first time since Christmas Day in Monday evening's clash with Everton due to an injury setback.

The Argentine defender had been carefully reintroduced to first-team duties following over nine months of rehabilitation from an ACL injury. Ruben Amorim's hesitation to deploy Martínez had allegedly caused significant frustration for the player before the Portuguese manager's dismissal in January.

Martínez eventually prevailed in his battle with Amorim and subsequent managers, featuring in United's last 10 matches across all competitions. Nevertheless, a suspected calf problem has sidelined him for United's journey to Merseyside, according to The Athletic.

Muscular complications after such an extended absence like Martínez's ACL rehabilitation are completely normal. Indeed, it has been more surprising that the 28-year-old had managed to stay healthy for so long after being consistently relied upon by Amorim, Darren Fletcher and most recently Michael Carrick. Now, United's manager must discover an alternative approach.

Man Utd Confirmed XI vs. Everton

Man Utd Confirmed XI vs. Everton

Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Senne Lammens, Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw; Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo; Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha; Bryan Mbeumo.

Substitutes: Atlay Bayındır (GK), Ayden Heaven, Tyrell Malacia, Noussair Mazraoui, Jack Moorhouse, Manuel Ugarte, Tyler Fletcher, Joshua Zirkzee, Benjamin Šeško.

When Will Lisandro Martínez Be Fit Again?

When Will Lisandro Martínez Be Fit Again?

The identical report from The Athletic suggests that Martínez is anticipated to be absent for just "one or two weeks." Considering United's currently light fixture list, Carrick won't be deprived of his key center-back for an extended period.

Unless Martínez can beat the projected recovery timeframe—something he accomplished during his return from the ACL injury—he will probably miss Sunday's home encounter against an unstable Crystal Palace team. The Red Devils' away match at Newcastle on March 4 remains uncertain, but there's strong confidence he should be available for United's subsequent game; a home fixture against Aston Villa on March 15.

The quicker Martínez can make his comeback, the better. Beyond fully embracing Carrick's philosophy, the left-footed defender provides passing options that his right-footed colleagues cannot naturally create. Martínez's unavailability has created an opportunity for Leny Yoro, though it will most probably be Harry Maguire who moves across to the left side of the center-back partnership.

This was previously the former Leicester City defender's favored position, but Erik ten Hag completely lost confidence in deploying Maguire on that side during the 2022–23 season. "The angles aren't suitable for Harry when he plays on the left," the Dutch manager worried, "it's challenging for him defending in wide spaces on his left foot, but I believe he's more effective on the right." It's yet to be determined whether Carrick will reach the same assessment.

Man Utd's Upcoming Fixtures (All Premier League)

Man Utd's Upcoming Fixtures (All Premier League)