- Man United defender Lisandro Martinez suffered a knee injury on Sunday
- It was reportedly an ACL injury and he is not expected to play again this season
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There are fears that Lisandro Martinez could be out of action for up to six months with a torn ACL in his left knee after the Manchester United defender was carried off in Sunday’s defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
United are still carrying out tests to determine the full extent of the damage, but reports in South America on Monday based on sources close to the Argentina national team claimed that it is the worst-case scenario for Martinez.
The 27-year-old defender left the field on a stretcher in some distress, and is now expected to be ruled out for the rest of the season.
Luke Shaw, who has not started a game for United for almost a year, is close to resuming full training and could fill in on the left-hand side of head coach Ruben Amorim’s back-three.
United could also fast-track new signing Ayden Heaven, who was unveiled at Old Trafford on Sunday following a £1.5million move from Arsenal.
The latest injury of Martinez’s career at United comes almost exactly a year after he sustained medial ligament damage in his right knee that kept him out for eight weeks.
Lisandro Martinez suffered a knee injury during Man United’s 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace
Martinez was clearly in a lot of pain before leaving the field early at Old Trafford on Sunday
United manager Ruben Amorim (centre) looked very worried as Martinez exited on a stretcher
The World Cup winner had already missed more than three months of last season due to complications with a broken metatarsal suffered at the end of his first campaign in England.
Amorim admitted on Sunday that the injury was ‘serious’. He said: ‘I think it is a serious situation. A bad situation for us and especially for Licha.
‘I think we are going to see in the next days but I think it is a serious situation. It’s really hard on us, he’s not just a great player but a strong character in the dressing room. Especially in this moment, it’s hard for us.
‘Now it is time for all of us to help Licha. He felt it and, when you are a player, you know when it is serious.
‘Let’s hope for better days for him. We are here, like I say, to help him in this difficult moment.’
United, who sit 13th in the table, have 14 Premier League matches remaining this season.
Amorim’s men are also still in the FA Cup and through to the UEFA Europa League’s round of 16, where they will play Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar or Midtjylland in March.
