Man Utd handed injury lifeline as two key players return to training ahead of Arsenal clash
- Man Utd confirmed return of Lisandro Martinez & Marcus Rashford to training
- Erik ten Hag has been short of defenders throughout most of this season
- Rashford set to make landmark 400th appearance for the club in next game
Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez was pictured back in training on Thursday, easing the club's ongoing defensive injury crisis in the final weeks of the season.
Marcus Rashford was also involved in the session as United prepare to face Premier League title chasers Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
United manager Erik ten Hag has hardly been able to put a back four together in recent weeks, relying on Casemiro to drop into defence from midfield amid all the absences.
Harry Maguire was ruled out for three weeks at the start of May with a muscle injury, joining Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Willy Kambwala and Martinez on the sidelines. 36-year-old Jonny Evans was rushed back in for the 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Crystal Palace on Monday night.
Having become a cult hero among United fans last season for his uncompromising defending, Martinez has only managed 11 appearances across all competitions in 2023/24. He aggravated a broken foot sustained last April during September's clash with Arsenal and later missed more than three months as a result. Only a few games into his comeback, the Argentine damaged a knee ligament tin February, before then suffering a calf injury in training in April.
There is no suggestion yet if Martinez will be available for the Arsenal game this weekend, although his return to training raises the possibility of him being involved when United face Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley in just over two weeks’ time.
Rashford hasn't played since United's semi-final win over Coventry City. The England forward has missed games against Sheffield United, Burnley and Crystal Palace, delaying his landmark 400th appearance for his boyhood club – the Coventry game was his 399th.
With no mention of United captain Bruno Fernandes during the club's training update on Thursday, he remains a doubt to face Arsenal. The Portugal international was ruled out of the Palace defeat, the first game in his professional career that he has missed specifically through injury.
READ THE LATEST MAN UTD NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
feed