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Manchester United have formally confirmed that Lisandro Martinez is going through as much as eight weeks on the sidelines whereas he recovers from a knee harm picked up on Sunday.
As United ran out 3-0 winners in opposition to West Ham courtesy of targets from Rasmus Hojlund and a brace from Alejandro Garnacho, the victory was dampened by fears that Martinez had sustained yet one more severe bodily setback.
The Argentine solely simply returned to aggressive motion after a number of months away because of a foot harm that had aggravated from final season.
Within the 4 video games he performed since coming again, Martinez confirmed followers precisely what that they had been lacking whereas he was on the remedy desk.
He got here on in its place to assist United handle a useful level in opposition to Tottenham Hotspur earlier in January. The World Cup winner began from the start in subsequent victories in opposition to Newport County, Wolverhampton Wanders and naturally extra just lately, West Ham.
After the ultimate whistle vs. the Hammers, Ten Hag gave an ominous Martinez health replace and hinted that the centre-back might be out for a number of weeks or months.
The Peoples Individual coated a report which relayed that the participant is not going to require surgical procedure and neither did he endure an ACL harm. It’s understood that Martinez is on monitor to return simply after the March worldwide break.
In his absence, Ten Hag might want to discover options in upcoming fixtures in opposition to the likes of Aston Villa, Luton, Fulham, Manchester Metropolis, Everton and Sheffield United, in addition to the membership’s FA Cup fifth spherical conflict with Nottingham Forest or Bristol Metropolis.
Right here’s how Ten Hag might arrange his facet to make sure the virtually irreplaceable Martinez is just not too sorely missed.
Deploy Luke Shaw at left-centre-back
One choice for Ten Hag might be utilizing Shaw as a centre-half. It’s definitely a job the England worldwide is acquainted with.
For some spells of the 2022/23 marketing campaign, Shaw was deployed on the coronary heart of United’s backline, as a left-sided defender.
He performed there to nice impact and shined within the place. Ten Hag is understood to all the time favour having a gifted left-footed centre-back with the power to seek out passing angles and successfully play out from the again. Shaw can definitely do that.
The United quantity 23 can be bodily sufficient to deal with the common bodily battles and duels in opposition to the Premier League’s bodily strikers.
With Shaw briefly filling in for Martinez, Ten Hag’s dilemma might come right down to who companions the 28-year-old.
Even higher is that Tyrell Malacia – who has not performed even a single minute of motion this time period – is nearing a return and so might straight fill in at left-back.
Make the most of a Varane-Maguire partnership
A extra typical and pure technique Ten Hag might make use of to offset Martinez’s unavailability is resorting to a pairing of Harry Maguire and Varane.
Whereas this partnership is just not the strongest on paper, it is perhaps the very best United can do for a while, a minimum of till Martinez is restored to the beginning XI.
In Maguire and Varane, Ten Hag needn’t fear about United being outdone aerially or bodily. Each gamers boast of big frames and are adept within the air.
They’re definitely capable of effectively with each other. Maguire and Varane are skilled operators who know the best way to get the job executed.
The previous United skipper was chic in opposition to West Ham and might be hoping his good kind carries on at some point of Martinez’s absence.
Ten Hag defined earlier than the fixture in opposition to the Irons that Maguire was chosen forward of Varane because of the spectacular shows he managed earlier than getting injured.
Again in December, Ten Hag hinted the identical and even prompt that Maguire might be an everyday presence in his groups. The United boss hailed the English defender’s psychological fortitude.
He mentioned about Maguire, “He’s now a vital participant for us — he fought again, and he confirmed nice mentality. On this season, we’re in proper path and Harry is in the proper path along with his crew. Now make the following steps.”
🔴 Erik ten Hag on Maguire: “He’s now a vital participant for us — he fought again, and he confirmed nice mentality”.
“On this season, we’re in proper path and Harry is in the proper path along with his crew. Now make the following steps”. pic.twitter.com/1k3D216Tyk
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 2, 2023
United will definitely want him to be at his greatest.
Make Victor Lindelof a starter
From the surface trying in, Lindelof seems to be the pure alternative for Martinez. The Swede is sweet along with his left-foot and might provide a little bit of one thing by way of the line-breaking passes, a minimum of to an honest degree compared to his far superior teammate.
Lindelof got here on in its place in the course of the West Ham recreation, in what was his 250th appearances for United.
He was injured however now appears to be totally match and raring to go. Within the latter phases of final season, he was spectacular and even elicited curiosity from some high Italian golf equipment.
Followers might be hoping he can replicate the great performances he as soon as displayed and assist the 20-time English Champions command a robust second-half of the marketing campaign.
Jonny Evans and Casemiro choices
If want be, Ten Hag may name on the providers of Evans and Casemiro.
Evans was signed as a free-agent in the summertime on a one-year deal and has proved to be considerably a shrewd acquisition. Throughout a season by which most members of the backline have struggled to be constantly match, the North Irishman has stuffed in effectively on the again when required.
Evans has been stable and his expertise and management have been of immense assist to Ten Hag and his teammates. He can chip in right here and there with Martinez dominated out.
If utterly determined or within the occasion that extra accidents come up alongside the best way, Casemiro is an alternate at centre-back. Like Shaw, the Brazilian has performed there earlier than and is aware of what’s required.
Nevertheless, it’s seemingly that such an alternate could be exercised as a measure of final resort.
