Manchester United will not be hurrying Lisandro Martinez back into action despite the center-back’s return to full training following knee surgery.
The Argentine international has been sidelined since February after sustaining a cruciate ligament injury during the home loss to Crystal Palace. It was the fourth major setback of his United career, coming after previous knee and foot issues that have limited him to just 52 Premier League appearances since joining from Ajax in 2022.
Given that track record, head coach Ruben Amorim is determined to avoid rushing Martinez’s rehabilitation. Although the 27-year-old is eager to feature against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, 1 November, Amorim has ruled him out of the fixture.
“He’s pushing to be involved in this one,” said the United boss. “But he won’t be. We’re adjusting certain parts of his training so he can progress step by step.”
Leadership presence boosts United morale
While Martinez will not yet return to the pitch, Amorim believes his presence alone brings an important lift to the squad. The defender is one of six players in the club’s designated leadership group, and his influence in training has already been felt.
“Having him back around the team gives us something extra,” Amorim noted. “He brings energy and intensity to every session, and that’s a huge benefit.”
United’s manager has repeatedly spoken about the side’s lack of on-field leaders earlier this season, describing his group as “starved” of strong voices. The return of Martinez, even just on the training ground, marks a welcome change.
Amorim responds to Dyche’s tactical remark
Saturday’s meeting with Nottingham Forest will also mark Amorim’s first clash with Forest head coach Sean Dyche since the latter’s remarks earlier in the year suggesting he could have delivered better results at United using a traditional 4-4-2 system.
During a podcast with Sam Allardyce, Dyche had argued Amorim was fortunate to keep his job after United’s disappointing 15th-place finish last season, when they collected only 27 points from 28 league fixtures at one stage.
Speaking ahead of the Forest encounter, Amorim acknowledged Dyche’s perspective but defended his long-term philosophy. “Maybe he’s right — maybe 4-4-2 would have given us more wins,” he admitted. “But I’ve always said my approach takes time.”
Amorim also showed understanding toward Dyche’s comments, adding that the outspoken nature of punditry often requires bold opinions. “If you’re a pundit and don’t say strong things, no one listens,” he said. “I get it. As a manager, he knows what he’s doing — and he’s a smart guy.”
