Lisandro Martinez is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelinesLisandro Martinez is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines
Lisandro Martinez is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines | AFP via Getty Images
The latest Man Utd injury news and potential return date for defender Lisandro Martinez.
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after he underwent successful surgery on his torn anterior cruciate ligament injury this week.
The Argentine suffered a serious injury during United's home defeat to Crystal Palace at the start of the month, with the initial prognosis suggesting he could be ruled out for as long as a year.
Martinez was accompanied by United officials when he underwent surgery on Thursday 13 February and will now begin the lengthy recovery process. The 27-year-old has now missed 50 matches through injury since he joined the club and will watch on as Ruben Amorim's rebuild continues without him.
Martinez injury timeframe revealed
Taking to social media on Thursday night, Fabrizio Romano confirmed reports Martinez had undergone successful surgery and issued a rough timeframe on his recovery process.
"Surgery completed today for Lisandro Martínez, as Manchester United staff decided to proceed after ACL injury," he wrote on social media. "His season is already over and Lisandro will try to be back before the end of the year, 2025 — but precise timing will depend on recovery/rehab progress."
A report from the Daily Mail was more optimistic though, stating Martinez might only be sidelined for six months, though they warned it could take up to a year, depending on his rehabilitation process. They say that if everything goes smoothly, the Argentine central defender could possibly be fit for the start of next season which begins on Saturday 16 August. It means Martinez is set to miss the lucrative post-season tour to Malaysia and is unlikely to be involved in their planned pre-season tour to the United States.
Amorim will likely issue an update on Martinez when he speaks at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. Earlier in the month, he said: "Licha is really important for us, not just as a football player, but as a character, especially in this hard moment. Now, it's time [for United] to help Licha. I think it's a bad situation. Let's wait to assess things with the doctor, but I think it's a serious situation."
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