Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez has taken to social media to insist that he will 'soon be back on the field' after news of his injury blow was confirmed.
The 26-year-old picked up a knee injury during the second half of Sunday's Premier League game against West Ham United, and it was confirmed on Monday that he had damaged his medial collateral ligament.
Man United have said that Martinez will be on the sidelines 'for at least eight weeks' in a major blow to the centre-back, who has only just returned to action following a second foot operation in quick succession.
"I want to give a heartfelt thanks for the great support I've received and to reassure you that I'll soon be back out there, and we'll fight together. Always united!" he posted on his X account.
I want to give a heartfelt thanks for the great support I've received and to reassure you that I'll soon be back out there, and we'll fight together. Always united!
— Lisandro Martinez (@LisandrMartinez) February 5, 2024
Quiero agradecer de todo corazón el gran apoyo que he recibido y transmitirles tranquilidad, pronto estaré... pic.twitter.com/tXEzAgm7ws
Man United will take on Chelsea and Liverpool in back-to-back Premier League games at the start of April and will hope to have Martinez available for those fixtures.
The South American missed the end of last season due to a fractured metatarsal, before returning to action for the start of pre-season training ahead of the current campaign.
Martinez was forced to undergo another operation in September, though, as scans revealed that there was still damage to the same foot, and he only returned to action against Tottenham Hotspur on January 14.
The defender has since played three times for Erik ten Hag's side, starting against Newport County, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham, but he is now set for more time on the sidelines.
© Reuters
"I can't say [how bad it is] but it doesn't look good so there's a big concern," Ten Hag said after the clash with West Ham when asked for an update on the centre-back's injury.
"We have to wait for the coming days for the diagnosis then we can tell you more. We do everything to get the right diagnosis to see what the damage is.
"He is very sad, very disappointed. We are with him. It's a personal disaster. Let's wait but it is really bad."
Martinez has been one of Ten Hag's most successful signings during his short time at Old Trafford, with the Argentine making 55 appearances in all competitions since his arrival.
