Lisandro Martinez provides injury update as Erik ten Hag dealt fresh Man United blow

Lisandro Martinez has stated that he is very close to a return for Manchester United after a long injury outlay.

The United defender has been unavailable since the away clash against Bayern Munich in September. He sustained after foot injury after being kept out for the last months of the previous season with a similar issue.

Recently spotted doing individual training on the grass at Carrington, Martinez is set for a return to the squad in January and the centre-back has explained the progression through his rehab after a ‘tough’ setback.

“I am really good, I am really good, honestly,” he told club media. “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.”

“Definitely, we need to be patient, we need to be patient,” he adds. “I know that I will be back soon, very soon. It takes time, we need to be patient.

“It is tough, so tough, especially when you had two injuries, almost six or seven months, it is really, really tough. But I feel strong in my mind. I get really good values from my family, to never give up, so this has only made me even stronger. It is tough, so tough, but there are no excuses.”

Meanwhile, when Martinez is set to return, Erik ten Hag will then be without first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana and midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, who will be representing their countries in the Africa Cup of Nations.

The competition will take place between January and February – the two players will be guaranteed to miss one Premier League fixture, and that could reach up to four should they reach the latter knockout stages.

Onana will be the bigger miss for United. He has started every game so far this season and whilst there have been difficulties in the Champions League, he has been largely reliable in the Premier League.

Altay Bayindir will be coming in as the goalkeeper and the Turkish shot-stopper is yet to make an appearance for the club.

Amrabat has had a difficult time blending into United’s midfield and with Casemiro and Mason Mount expected back in January, there should be sufficient depth in the engine room.