Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has ruled out an Achilles injury for centre-back Lisandro Martinez, who was carried off the field late in Thursday’s 2-2 draw with Sevilla.
Martinez collapsed to the turf with nobody around him and immediately grabbed for his heel, sparking concerns that he may have suffered a serious Achilles injury which could easily keep him sidelined until 2024.
Ten Hag, who acknowledged that Martinez’s injury ‘did not look good’, was unsure of a diagnosis but confidently claimed the Argentine had avoided an Achilles problem.
“I cannot tell what it is but it is not Achilles,” the boss said after the game. “No, that is not the area.”
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Ten Hag is also sweating over the fitness of United’s other starting centre-back, Raphael Varane, who was withdrawn at half-time with his own injury concern.
“I think it is for after the game, but that injury, he [has] complained [about] over the last couple of weeks and we have to see how it is now,” Ten Hag added on the Frenchman.
Despite obvious concerns over the duo, Ten Hag insisted his squad is strong enough to survive.
“We have very good replacements,” he explained. “Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw. We have the players who can replace them. But of course, it is a miss.
“We are competing in three competitions and then you need the squad. And if Licha Martinez and Rapha Varane are not available on Sunday, then others have to do it.”
Martinez and Varane’s injuries have added to a United injury list which is lengthening by the week.
The Red Devils are already without main goal threat Marcus Rashford, though he is expected to return for the season run-in, while Luke Shaw has also been sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Alejandro Garnacho, meanwhile, is not expected to play again this season, and Donny van de Beek is also out for the remainder of the campaign. Anthony Martial was withdrawn after an hour against Sevilla, with preventitive measures in place to try and help the Frenchman maintain fitness.
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