Manchester United injury update: Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, Raphael Varane latest news and return dates
Manchester United are dealing with a defensive injury crisis ahead of high-profile Premier League clashes with Chelsea and Liverpool this week.
Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof are both now facing at least a month on the sidelines after fresh setbacks, joining fellow centre-backs Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans in the treatment room.
With the likes of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia also still out, Erik ten Hag has seriously depleted numbers at the back as his side battle to secure some form of European football for next season.
The shortage of players in central defence will likely lead to another first-team run for academy graduate Willy Kambwala alongside Harry Maguire, unless Varane can prove his fitness in the days ahead.
Here is all the latest Manchester United injury news and return dates.
Lisandro Martinez
Martinez replaced the injured Lindelof with 20 minutes to go against Brentford on Saturday, making his first appearance for almost two months after his latest lay-off with knee ligament damage.
However, he will now be out for at least another month after picking up a calf strain in training at Carrington.
It is the latest in a long line of injury setbacks for Martinez, who missed the end of last season after foot surgery and then missed four more months between September and January following another foot operation.
Potential return date: May 2024
Victor Lindelof
Ten Hag initially said that Lindelof will be “assessed” after he came off in the second half at Brentford, allowing Martinez to make his short-lived return.
It has since been confirmed by United that the Swede’s hamstring injury will keep him out of action for at least four weeks.
Potential return date: May 2024
Raphael Varane
Ten Hag confirmed that Varane was replaced by Maguire at half-time against Brentford as a precautionary measure, but it remains to be seen if he will play against Chelsea on Thursday.
Potential return date: Unknown
Luke Shaw
Before the game at Brentford, Ten Hag confirmed that Shaw was likely to play again this season in a major boost for both United and England.
Potential return date: May/June 2024
Altay Bayindir
Goalkeeper Bayindir is expected to make a swift return to action.
The 25-year-old was ruled out of the Liverpool clash before the international break with an injury, keeping him out of Turkey’s fixtures too, but the club reported he would only miss “around two weeks”.
Bayindir could therefore be back in the squad soon.
Potential return date: April 2024
Jonny Evans
Evans was absent from the Northern Ireland squad for the games against Romania and Scotland, with United hoping that a two-week break will enable the defender to return soon.
The club said: “The vastly experienced centre-back has been nursing a minor issue for the past few matches and, consequently, his game-time has been carefully managed.
“It is in the best interests of both club and country for him to have a period of rest, in order to recover fully.”
Potential return date: April 2024
Tyrell Malacia
The wait for Malacia’s first appearance of the season goes on.
The left-back has been out since undergoing knee surgery in the summer, having then been hit with a number of setbacks in his recovery.
While there have been some positive updates on Malacia’s situation, Ten Hag confirmed earlier this month that he is unlikely to return this season.
“I think it’s going to be difficult for him this season to be available,” Ten Hag said.
“He will fight, he’s back on the pitch, but not in the team and the process had some setbacks for him and he’s still going forwards really slowly, and the season is coming to an end.”
Potential return date: Spring/summer 2024
Anthony Martial
It remains to be seen whether Martial will play again for United.
The forward is out of contract in the summer, with no new deal expected, and is currently on the sidelines after undergoing groin surgery in January.
The club suggested at the time that Martial would be out for about 10 weeks, meaning a possible return in April if there are no further injury problems.
Potential return date: April 2024
