Return date for United’s long-term absentee revealed after controversial decision sparked speculation

Manchester United supporters were left perplexed when it was confirmed yesterday that Lisandro Martinez would be joining up with the Argentina squad this month.

The stalwart centre-half has not featured for the club since February 4 after he suffered a sprain to the medial collateral ligament from a collision with West Ham United’s Vladimir Coufal.

An estimated timeframe of around eight weeks was given for Martinez’s recovery, hence why eyebrows were raised when Lionel Scaloni opted to include the sidelined star in his squad for their double-header of fixtures towards the end of March.

Erik ten Hag would likely rather keep the defender covered in bubble wrap until the time comes for him to step out in red again, especially given that it’s his third lengthy injury layoff since April 2023, and the player has been limited to just eight Premier League appearances this campaign.

However, the manager has actually signed off on Martinez’s temporary exit for international duty, as Times Sport confirmed tonight that he will not play in either match against El Salvador or Costa Rica and has only been included in his nation’s squad after United and the Argentine FA ‘agreed that the centre back would benefit from conducting the last part of his rehabilitation alongside his international team-mates in the US’. 

As such, he is in line to make his long-awaited return to club action on March 30 against Brentford.