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Manchester United have confirmed Lisandro Martinez will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a fractured metatarsal during Thursday’s Europa League draw against Sevilla.
Martinez was carried from the field by Sevilla’s Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel – his Argentina team-mates – after going down unchallenged in the closing stages at Old Trafford.
With Erik ten Hag having already used all of his substitutes, United were forced to finish the quarter-final first-leg clash with 10 men, and Sevilla took advantage to salvage a 2-2 draw from two goals down.
The Red Devils on Friday confirmed centre-back Martinez will not feature again in the 2022-23 campaign.
“Lisandro Martinez has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his foot,” a club statement said.
“However, the Argentinian defender is expected to make a full recovery in time to be ready for the start of next season.”
Martinez was not the only casualty in United’s backline on Thursday as Raphael Varane was replaced at half-time after sustaining a knock, and the Frenchman is set to be out “for a few weeks”.
Martinez and Varane have built a solid defensive partnership this term, starting together in 16 of United’s 29 Premier League games during Ten Hag’s first season in charge.
The injuries represent a huge blow for United, who will look to boost their hopes of a top-four finish at Nottingham Forest on Sunday ahead of Thursday’s return fixture against Sevilla.
With Martinez and Varane absent, Ten Hag is likely to turn to Harry Maguire – who put through his own net late on against Sevilla – and Victor Lindelof for United’s forthcoming fixtures.
United are already without leading goalscorer Marcus Rashford after the 25-year-old suffered a muscle injury, while Bruno Fernandes will be suspended for next week’s trip to Seville.
