Manchester United may be on the verge of getting the ideal solution to the problems that have plagued Ruben Amorim since he took over as manager. He finished last season with his worst result in the Premier League since 1990 and was under pressure after a disastrous start to this season. However, things have improved in recent weeks and United appear to have finally turned a corner.
They are unbeaten in their last five games and recently picked up their first historic away win against Liverpool in over a decade. Despite United’s impressive run of form, there is one area in which their squad is still proving to be problematic. The Red Devils lack a natural fit and the left wing-back position is arguably the least effective.
Nousser Mazraoui can also play on the left, but he is a right-handed player and is suited to the opposite flank. Diogo Dalot has struggled to make an impression in the position, while Patrick Dorg is still far from finished.
Luke Shaw is probably the best choice for United, but the England international has been playing in central defense of late. He plays on the left side of a back three and has started every Premier League game this season.
However, with Lisandro Martinez’s return on the horizon, Shaw could move into the left wing-back role and solve one of United’s biggest problems.
Martinez injured his knee ligaments in the game against Crystal Palace last season and has been out of action since February. In recent weeks he has stepped up his training regime and is moving closer to his long-awaited return to fitness.
He could feature in Monday’s game against Everton, but it remains to be seen whether he will be selected to start in defence.
Martinez will likely lack some of his game after spending so much time on the treatment table, but his return to United’s back three could be a big boost when he is fit.
Amorim previously said he did not want to specify a timetable for Martinez’s return, but the United boss revealed in late October that Martinez was progressing well.
“He is in good health,” Amorim said. “I don’t want to point to a specific day or week because my knee is responding very well.
“I don’t know, but it’s close to starting training with the team. It all depends on Richa’s rhythm. It’s up to him whether he wins that place or not, but the return to training is getting closer.”
Amorim also revealed that he missed Martinez very much during his injury absence, saying: “We miss him very much, Richa, especially at this moment. We miss his aggressiveness in everything he does, we miss him.”
