Manchester United are reportedly hopeful that Lisandro Martinez will make his return from a knee injury in the team's next match against Brentford on March 30.
The 26-year-old has been restricted to just 10 appearances for the Red Devils during the 2023-24 campaign due to injury, missing a long period earlier this season following a second foot operation of the year.
Martinez made his return to action in the middle of January, but he suffered a knee injury against West Ham United at the start of February and has been sidelined since.
The centre-back was surprisingly named in the Argentina squad for their March friendlies with El Salvador and Costa Rica, but Man United clarified that the South American would not be involved in the two matches during the international break.
"Lisandro Martinez is not yet ready to return from a knee injury but is joining up with the Argentina squad in the United States," read a statement on the club's official website on March 15.
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"The defender will continue the final steps in his rehabilitation there but will not feature in the matches against El Salvador and Costa Rica.
"It has been decided that Lisandro will benefit from training with his international colleagues as he regains fitness, rather than staying at Carrington, where there will be few players training next week."
According to Sky Sports News, Martinez is now in the final stages of his rehabilitation process, and Man United are hopeful that he could be involved against Brentford next Saturday.
Martinez has been one of Erik ten Hag's success stories in terms of signings for the Red Devils, with the defender making 55 appearances for the club since his arrival from Ajax in the summer of 2022.
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The centre-back's 2022-23 campaign was cut short due to the fractured metatarsal that he suffered while facing Sevilla in the Europa League in April, which led to him having an operation.
Martinez was back for the start of pre-season training, but he struggled with pain in his foot in the early weeks of the campaign, and following a scan, it was decided that the Argentine would need to have further surgery.
The defender played three times against Tottenham Hotspur, Newport County, Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this year before picking up his knee issue against West Ham.
Martinez will now be hopeful of securing a run of games before the end of the season, with Man United seeking glory in the FA Cup and also challenging to secure Champions League football for the 2024-25 campaign.
Matt Law
