Lisandro Martinez will miss the remainder of the campaign as Manchester United attempt to deal with a bruising double injury blow.
The Argentine defender was hauled off - literally by his Argentina colleagues Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel - during the 2-2 draw with Spanish side Sevilla at Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag was initially guarded over Martinez’s potential absence.
Speaking after the full-time whistle on Thursday evening, the Dutchman said: "When Licha Martinez drops out with no opponent involved, it doesn't look that great. It doesn’t look that great. We have to wait, I can’t say in this moment.”
The Red Devils have been dealt the worst-case scenario with Martinez set to miss the remainder of the campaign, according to an official club statement. The former Ajax star has suffered a metatarsal injury and will now undergo surgery to correct the problem.
His recovery could see him be ruled out until late May, which would see the defender miss the remainder of the campaign as the Red Devils attempt to add the Europa League and FA Cup to the Carabao Cup that they have already claimed. The enforced loss of Martinez is a huge blow to Ten Hag, who is also without his other first-choice central defender Raphael Varane, who did not emerge for the second-half of the Sevilla game.
It means back-up central defensive pairing Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are likely to start Sunday's Premier League game at Nottingham Forest, with Luke Shaw still making his way back from injury. Martinez has been one of United's best performers this season, following his £48million switch from Ajax last summer.
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The 25-year-old, who won the World Cup with Argentina in December, has made 45 appearances in all competitions for United and become a fan favourite with his belligerent and uncompromising style of defending.
Shaw, ostensibly a left-back, can play as a left-sided central defender, but that deprives United of his threat down the left flank, where the England defender has been so effective this season.
Elsewhere, whilst further tests need to be completed in order to determine the severity of Varane’s problem, there is optimism that he will return before the end of the campaign. Man United have confirmed that he will be missing for a "few weeks".
Ten Hag said: "Same with Rapha [Varane]. I didn’t speak with him after the game but I know of an injury complaint over the last weeks so we have to see how it is now.”
His injury is just the latest in a long line of problems at Old Trafford over the past few weeks. Long-term absentees Donny van de Beek and Alejandro Garnacho both remain ruled out, whilst Marcus Rashford is also restricted to the sidelines for this weekend’s trip to the East Midlands.
