Manchester United set for Lisandro Martinez fitness boost as defender travels to Argentina

Lisandro Martinez has travelled to Argentina ahead of their two World Cup qualifiers during the international break and his fitness is set to be evaluated by their medical team.

The Manchester United centre-back came off injured during the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday and it has been reported in Argentina that he was suffering discomfort in his foot, having missed the end of last season with a metatarsal injury in the same foot.

But Martinez has been declared fit enough to link up with his international colleagues and he landed in Buenos Aires on Monday afternoon after flying in with the rest of Argentina's Premier League contingent.

Argentina face Ecuador at the Monumental in Buenos Aires in the early hours of Friday UK time, before a trip to face Bolivia at altitude in La Paz on Tuesday, in what are the first round of games in South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

ALSO READ: Ten Hag stands by Sancho comments

Martinez is set to have his fitness checked on arrival at Argentina's base and a decision will then be made on whether he can train on Tuesday and his availability for the two games during the break.

The 25-year-old's availability would come as a boost to United, who are suffering an injury crisis at the heart of defence. Raphael Varane is set to be absent for another few weeks, while Victor Lindelof also came off during the defeat to Arsenal on Sunday. That meant Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans finished the game in central defence.

Erik ten Hag said Lindelof had been feeling ill before the game, although he was pictured limping away from the stadium after the game and it's not yet clear if he has linked up with the Sweden squad ahead of their fixtures this week. They play Estonia