Manchester United handed Lisandro Martinez injury boost for crunch Newcastle clash
Manchester United are set to receive a major injury boost for Wednesday night’s crunch clash with Newcastle as Lisandro Martinez prepares to make his long-awaited return.
Manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed that the Argentine defender will be back in his squad for the penultimate Premier League fixture of the season against their rivals for European qualification at St James’ Park.
Martinez has endured an injury-plagued 12 months, suffering from persistent foot problems that required two operations before then sustaining a calf strain in training just one game into his latest comeback in March.
“I think he will return to the squad,” the under-fire Ten Hag said of Martinez at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference. “He's done some sessions with us and we plan for him to be available if this afternoon everything goes right in training. He will return to the squad.”
While Martinez should be available to face Newcastle, it remains to be seen if other key players such as Marcus Rashford and captain Bruno Fernandes will prove their fitness in time as they both face late checks.
Rashford has missed United’s last four matches with a knock suffered in the dramatic FA Cup semi-final win over Coventry at Wembley on April 21, not deemed ready to play against Arsenal at the weekend despite returning to training at Carrington.
Skipper Fernandes, meanwhile, missed both the Arsenal game and last week’s woeful 4-0 loss at Crystal Palace with a hand issue.
Ten Hag added: “For some other players we have to see: Rashford, Bruno, Willy Kambwala, if they are fit enough."
United’s season-long injury crisis has only worsened of late, with young winger Amad Diallo also picking up a knock during Sunday’s 1-0 defeat by title-chasing Arsenal that could leave him doubtful to face Newcastle.
Ten Hag also remains without a host of other players including Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Mason Mount, Tyrell Malacia and Anthony Martial.
Raphael Varane, whose summer exit from United at the end of his contract was confirmed earlier on Tuesday, will not face Newcastle but could play some part in what would be an Old Trafford farewell at home against Brighton on the final day of the Premier League season this weekend.
United will also hope to have Varane available for the FA Cup final showdown with rivals Manchester City at Wembley on May 25.
Ten Hag said: "We are planning, definitely, for the last games [for Varane to play]. Not tomorrow but we hope for Sunday and then, of course, for the last game."
United head to Tyneside on Wednesday evening on the back of successive defeats and having won just one of their last eight league matches, battling to avoid their worst-ever Premier League finish.
Such a dire run, as well as leading to yet more fervent speculation over the future of the under-fire Ten Hag, has left the club sitting eighth in the table, three points behind both Newcastle and Chelsea with a much worse goal difference than both in pursuit of sixth place and Europa Conference League qualification for next term.
