Ten Hag takes his side to west London this weekend (Picture: Getty)
Erik ten Hag expects Lisandro Martinez to return to the squad for Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Brentford on Saturday.
United have been decimated by injury problems at the back this season but are set to welcome Martinez back after over two months on the sidelines.
Harry Maguire returned from England duty with an injury problem with Marcus Rashford missing the draw with Belgium, thought to have been carrying a knock for a number of weeks.
Casemiro meanwhile suffered his latest injury on the eve of United’s FA Cup clash with Liverpool which forced him to withdraw from the Brazil squad.
United take on Brentford in the capital on Saturday night and are still fighting to close the gap on Aston Villa and Tottenham, who sit nine and six points ahead of them respectively in fourth and fifth place.
Offering an injury update on Friday morning, ten Hag told a press conference ‘there is a chance’ Martinez will make the journey to the capital.
‘Yes, there is a chance [back in squad],’ ten Hag said of the Argentine. ‘We have missed him every game because he brings a composure in the team, a calmness in the team. At the same time, a winning attitude and he can express this very clearly. He can transfer that into the team and that contributes a lot to our levels.’
Martinez hoping to return this weekend (Picture: Getty)
Ten Hag also offered an update on Luke Shaw, who suffered another injury blow in February. With reports initially speculating he could miss the remainder of the season – throwing his participation in England’s Euro 2024 campaign in doubt – ten Hag says the left-back is firmly on track with his recovery.
‘Yes, I expect him back before the end of the season, he is still on schedule and will return to our team.’
Martinez has endured an injury-hit second season at Old Trafford, undergoing surgery on a metatarsal injury for the second time in six months in September.
After four months on the sidelines, he returned to action in January. That return lasted just four games, however, suffering a knee injury in the 3-0 win over West Ham United in early February.
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Martinez trained with the Argentina squad in the US during the international break before returning to Manchester last week.
Maguire meanwhile played for England last Saturday in the 1-0 defeat to Brazil but was replaced in the second-half. In the days that followed, he withdrew from the squad due to an unspecified knock.
United also remain without Tyrell Malacia with Anthony Martial also still sidelined.
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