Manchester United fans were treated to an encouraging sight this week when images from the Carrington training ground were released. Lisandro Martinez was front and center in the photo, marking another important step in his recovery from the anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained against Crystal Palace in February. Martinez’s desire to return to the first team has been clear for several weeks, with manager Ruben Amorim revealing last month that he had to dissuade the Argentine from traveling with the team to Nottingham Forest.
The decision not to risk Martinez in the subsequent draw against Tottenham Hotspur was understandable. Having been sidelined since February, it would have been unwise to rush his return and potentially worsen the injury, especially considering the progress of his recovery. His absence from the game against Spurs all but ensured that Martinez would return to the first team after the international break. But his role at the club evolved in a way no one could have predicted.
When Martinez was stretchered off the pitch against Palace, United didn’t just lose a key player. A key defender and a sure-fire starter in the back five, his absence left a hole in the squad that Amorim struggled to fill as his options were limited.
But when he returns this weekend, he will find that his once-certain starting place in the United team now belongs to Luke Shaw. When Martinez entered Carrington’s injury room, Shaw was already there, continuing to recover from a muscle injury.
This was the third serious injury of the 2024/25 season and it seemed impossible for Shaw to compete for a regular starting spot again. Fast forward to November and Shaw played 11 consecutive Premier League games for the first time since 2023.
This Englishman also gained status. Apart from his widely criticized performance against Manchester City, Shaw has been one of the standout performers on the left of the back three, so it was surprising that he was not called up to the England squad.
As he rejoins the United squad, Martinez faces the possibility of having to wait for his chance to start. His new role could be as a bench warmer. The Argentine would have expected a gradual return to the first team, but even if he is fully fit, he is waiting for Shaw to stumble to seize the opportunity.
This will undoubtedly be an exciting challenge for Martinez, but the next 18 months will be crucial for the 27-year-old. His contract expires in the summer of 2027, so if he is unable to replace Shaw, his tenure at the club could be coming to an end.
