Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has admitted he has no choice but to be “patient” as he works to recover from a foot injury that has ruled him out since mid-September.
Martinez suffered the problem against Arsenal at the end of August but continued to play on for two more games against Brighton & Hove Albion and Bayern Munich.
It turned out to be an aggravation of the fractured metatarsal he had suffered in April during a Europa League clash with Sevilla, with United then confirming he would be out for an “extended period” in a major blow for manager Erik ten Hag.
Martinez has recently been afforded some time off to travel back home during his recovery and was present at the Estadio Norberto ‘Tito’ Tomaghello on Wednesday night to see former club Defensa y Justicia take on Racing Club in the Argentine Primera Division.
“I am in the process of recovery. It is the second time that an injury like this has happened to me. So, you have to be patient,” he told Argentine broadcaster TNT Sports, not to be confused with the UK outlet of the same name.
Martinez is not expected to return to action for United until early 2024. In his absence, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans have all had chances to start, with Raphael Varane also in and out of the side – the Frenchman has only started once in the Premier League, a home defeat to Crystal Palace at the end of September, since Martinez was ruled out.
United have endured successive 3-0 defeats at Old Trafford to Manchester City and Newcastle United in recent days, meaning that pressure continues to mount ahead of Saturday’s trip to Fulham.
