It’s safe to say that Erik ten Hag has had quite a turbulent first half of the season but the Dutchman has made it into the new year and hopefully, one by one, his first-team stars will be returning to action.
Ten Hag has been without many of his first-team regulars for most of the season and they have been unavailable simultaneously, leaving the manager with little choice but to put out makeshift sides in the Premier League.
That has, obviously, had a negative impact on United’s performances and results, leaving the Reds with a mighty chase for a Champions League spot. They are also out of two competitions already, having played every game available to them up until April in his first term.
Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro, two of the players Ten Hag relied on most last season, have missed the best part of this season but the pair have now returned to full training.
That will have come as a real boost for Ten Hag, who has commented on the returns of his trusted lieutenants going into this weekend’s FA Cup clash with Wigan.
“Two class players and they will bring the team forward,” Ten Hag is quoted as saying by the official Manchester United website.
“We know that and now we’re looking forward to their return in the team on matchdays. But we have to wait for that.
“They still need some time to fully make their comeback but yeah, it is a good signal that they are back on the grass with the team, in the team training. Now, we have to make the next step [to get them] fully in the team training, and then they can work with us.”
It remains to be seen whether they will be involved in any capacity on Monday evening against Wigan. Ten Hag will not be taking any risks with either of them due to their importance.
Martinez has been sidelined for the last four months with the same injury that ended his first season prematurely.
