Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is set to be handed a huge New Year boost by the return to action of centre-back Lisandro Martinez.
The Argentina World Cup winner, perceived as one of Ten Hag's more successful signings, hasn't played since the defeat to Bayern Munich on September 20 after aggravating a foot injury. His absence has proved significant, with the Dutch manager having struggled to field a settled defence this season.
Last April, Martinez saw his debut campaign in England ended prematurely after he fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot. The 25-year-old had aggravated that injury in the Premier League defeat to Arsenal in September, but made an ill-fated decision to play regardless against Brighton and then in Germany.
Having stepped up his rehabilitation pre-Christmas though, the defender is on the brink of full training again. And he was positive about the impact of club medical staff after being designed a recovery programme to aid him during his spell on the sidelines.
“Well, I am really good, I am really good, honestly,” he explained to the club website, when pushed on his recovery. “My rehab is going amazingly, in the way that I want, I am feeling strong, doing everything right with Ibra (Ibrahim Kerem) the physio.
"He has been amazing. And also the medical department, they take care of me from day one so it was really important. Yeah, all is perfect for me.”
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Despite a seemingly imminent return, Martinez also conceded that club staff, keen to avoid another reoccurrence, will wait until he's 100 per cent fit before sanctioning selection: “Definitely, we need to be patient, we need to be patient. I know that I will be back soon, very soon. It takes time, we need to be patient.”
The news will be welcomed by Ten Hag amid a mini-defensive crisis at United. Both Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have been ruled out over the festive period with injury, while Luke Shaw also missed the Boxing Day win over Aston Villa.
Martinez signed from Ajax, where he worked with his current boss, in t he summer of 2022 for £55million. He played 45 times for the Red Devils last season, and started the League Cup final win over Newcastle in February.
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