Lisandro Martinez Suffers Setback During Training

Manchester United’s defensive crisis has deepened after Lisandro Martinez suffered a reaction in training, delaying his return from a calf strain and ruling him out of Sunday’s pivotal Premier League meeting with Aston Villa.

The Argentina World Cup winner was initially expected to miss only the Everton fixture following the injury sustained in training after last month’s 1-1 draw at West Ham. Instead, he has already sat out three consecutive matches and now faces at least one more on the sidelines.

Sources close to the club stress that the injury is not regarded as serious, but a cautious approach has been adopted after Martinez experienced discomfort during a recent session. Coaching staff are determined to avoid a repeat of the prolonged absence that has sidelined fellow centre-back Matthijs de Ligt since late November.

Martinez’s tenacity and progressive passing have been badly missed at the heart of defence, particularly during last week’s defeat at Newcastle in which an under-strength back line was exposed. With Champions League qualification on the line, the timing of this setback could scarcely be worse.

United’s medical team will continue to monitor the 26-year-old closely, prioritising his long-term availability over a swift comeback. Despite recurring fitness issues since his arrival from Ajax, the club remain committed to the defender; negotiations over a contract extension are under way as United look to fend off reported interest from Barcelona.

Sunday’s visit of Aston Villa now looms as another fixture United must navigate without one of their defensive linchpins, intensifying pressure on Michael Carrick’s squad to secure a result that keeps their top-four hopes alive.

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