Manchester United's new signing might be thrown into deep end after injury blow

The worst was feared when Lisandro Martinez fell to the ground against Crystal Palace last weekend. Martinez's knee appeared to buckle as he landed from an aerial duel and, unfortunately, it was confirmed on Monday evening that he'd torn the cruciate ligament in his knee.

Martinez was distraught as he was taken off the pitch on a stretcher and he now faces a spell of between six and nine months on the sidelines, depending on his rehabilitation.

The 27-year-old will require surgery and faces another long road to recovery, almost exactly a year on since he damaged the medial collateral ligament in his knee against West Ham on February 4, 2024, which meant he was absent for three months at the back end of last season.

It is rotten luck for Martinez to pick up another - and more serious - knee injury and Ruben Amorim said it was "really bad news" for his team when he provided a brief update on Sunday.

During his press conference, Amorim added: "Licha is really important for us, not just as a football player, but as a character, especially in this hard moment. Now it’s time to help Licha."

Martinez's form had been disappointing until the last month or so, but the centre-back seemed to turn a corner and his roaming runs forward became a staple of United's attacks.

United are that toothless, Martinez's absence will have a negative impact on their attacking threat. His goal in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield was brilliant and he was responsible for providing a much-needed breakthrough against Fulham, albeit his goal was deflected.

Martinez also provided a superb assist for Amad's winning goal against Manchester City last month, any played another brilliant pass for Bruno Fernandes' last-minute goal against Rangers.

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