Lisandro Martinez had us all worried during the dramatic 4-3 win over Wolves, when the Argentine was seen having strapping applied to his foot in the dugout at Molineux.
The 24-year-old was substituted in the 86th minute after a strong performance in the heart of defence for what was his first Premier League start since September.
Martinez made one exceptional clearance to prevent a header from Max Kilman crossing the line, but sadly he couldn’t prevent the two goals we conceded prior to his substitution.
The TV cameras showed Martinez sat on the bench receiving attention, with an ice-pack strapped to his left foot. This caused many of us to panic because it is clear that he is already making a difference to how we play since returning.
However, Erik ten Hag has appeared to shut down those fears, by stressing the move to replace Martinez with Harry Maguire was a precautionary one.
“It was a precaution,” Ten Hag told reporters, as per ManUtd.com. “I took him off because, actually I had to sub Rasmus [Hojlund] because he was dead with all his running! But then we needed an extras header but, also for Licha, I think he is a long way out. We brought Harry on for [an] extra header and Omari Forson for Rasmus.”
Losing Martinez again to injury would be such a big blow for this season. Not only is he the best defender at the club, nobody is able to carry the ball out of defence quite like him. That is why we are scoring more goals all of a sudden.
Ten Hag also spoke about the return of Casemiro after the Brazilian’s incredible first-half display against Wolves.
“And Case, I know, the more games he is going to play, the better he will be. But he needs game minutes and that is why he takes most benefit from [that], at the moment. Also, with another foul, maybe he [would] be sent off, so I couldn’t take the risk.”
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