Alan Smith believes the impending return of Lisandro Martinez will come as a much-needed boost for Manchester United across the remainder of the term.
The Red Devils enter the business end of the campaign fighting an uphill battle in the top-four race, along with being two matches away from winning silverware for the second successive season in the form of the FA Cup.
A return to Premier League action is first on the cards, though, with Saturday evening’s trip to Brentford marking a first top-flight match in over two weeks. United resume their Champions League qualification quest hoping to bridge the gap between themselves and Tottenham Hotspur (six points), as well as Aston Villa (nine points).
Indeed, the odds are stacked against them to pull off such a feat, but you just can’t rule them out at this stage.
Pivotal centre-half Martinez is expected to make his long-awaited return from injury this weekend, and he’ll slot straight into the starting 11 to pick up where he left off in playing such a commanding, influential role anchoring United’s backline.
Martinez can be a difference-maker, says Smith
Smith agrees with such a sentiment, as he said of the Argentine international (via the Metro): “He’s an essential part of the team, and he’s left-sided, which has been a huge loss for them this year.
“Nearly all the left-sided players have been decimated with injury. Luke Shaw’s been out, Martinez, [Tyrell] Malacia. I know that Ten Hag as a Dutch coach likes that balance, and you see strange decisions as managers just to see if you can get a left-footed or left-sided player in the team.
“I think just for giving the balance, makes it hard when he’s not in the team. Not only is he a great defender that looks like a real good leader, but being left-footed with so few left-sided options would have a massive impact on the team as well for the balance of the team.”
