Leeds United’s upcoming Premier League opponents have been handed a big fitness boost.
Leeds United’s upcoming opponents Manchester United have been handed a timely fitness boost ahead of Monday’s Premier League meeting.
Monday-night hosts Manchester United will have enjoyed a full three weeks off, given their non-participation in the FA Cup quarter-finals, and are currently at a training camp out in Dublin. Michael Carrick’s side hosted an open session on Tuesday and the YEP’s sister site Manchester World has reported on a big boost.
Among those involved in full first-team training was Lisandro Martinez, who has missed Manchester United’s last five games due to a calf injury. Barring any setbacks, the combative defender is now set to be available when Leeds head to Old Trafford in another six day’s time.
Martinez, signed from Ajax for £56.7million back in 2022, was only expected to miss a week or two after picking up the calf injury during a training session in February. He has now been sidelined for six weeks, however, and missed out on representing Argentina during the March international break.
Timely Man Utd return amid Leeds United suspension
The 28-year-old’s return is timely for boss Michael Carrick, who will be without experienced centre-back Harry Maguire for his side’s meeting with Leeds. The England defender was shown a straight red card against Bournemouth before the break and will serve an automatic one-match ban on Monday.
The return of Martinez means he will likely start alongside Leny Yoro against Leeds on Monday. The pair will expect to have a physical battle on their hands against Dominic Calvert-Lewin, fresh off the back of burying two penalties in normal time and the shootout during Sunday’s FA Cup win over West Ham.
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Elsewhere, Manchester World report Patrick Dorgu was not involved in group training during the open session and instead continued on his own rehabilitation programme. The attacking wing-back has missed eight games with a hamstring injury and is yet to be given a timeline on a possible return.
Forward pair Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo both missed international duty with Slovenia and Cameroon, respectively, but both are in Dublin and expected to be fit for Leeds. Centre-back Matthijs De Ligt didn’t travel due to a back injury that’s kept him out since November.
Leeds have been left sweating on the fitness of two key players ahead of Monday’s trip to Old Trafford. Anton Stach limped off at West Ham with a suspected ankle ligament injury while Joe Rodon was also substituted after an awkward fall. The Whites did not risk left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson while Daniel James is expected to miss out with an adductor strain.
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