Ruben Amorim admitted Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez is edging closer to a return to action, but he won’t be pushed up into a defensive midfield role.
The Argentine suffered an ACL injury back on Feb. 2 in a 2–0 defeat to Crystal Palace and hasn’t played since. Amorim’s defence suffered mightily in his absence as Man Utd finished a club-worst 15th last season. Results have improved this season, but the centre back’s reintroduction should boost a side that’s conceded 18 goals in 11 Premier League matches.
Talk of a potential return heightened when Martínez was called up to the Argentina squad for the November internationals. He trained with La Albiceleste during the break and it seems to have paid dividends as he nears his first appearance in over nine months.
“I feel Licha is becoming close to being able to play,” Amorim said ahead of Monday’s Premier League clash with Everton. “We need to be careful, he is going to struggle in the first minutes but he is clearly in a better position than he was two weeks ago.”
