Anshuman Joshi
Lisandro Martínez and Victor Lindelöf out for at least a month
Manchester United have been dealt further injury blows as centre-backs Lisandro Martínez and Victor Lindelöf have been ruled out for “at least a month”, as reported by BBC Sport.
This comes on the back off United’s French defender Raphaël Varane having recently revealed his struggle with head injuries over the years, even admitting he withdrew from a game earlier this season for similar reasons.
The injury blow is particularly concerning for the Argentina international, who returned from a seven-week absence due to a knee injury only last week, having missed out on most of the first half of the season due after undergoing surgery for a metatarsal injury.
Lindelöf, meanwhile, missed eight weeks’ worth of football action earlier in the season owing to a groin injury.
Further injuries to left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia exacerbate United’s defensive woes, who have conceded 40 goals in the league this season.
The injuries make United’s chances of making the top four even unlikelier, as they currently lie 11 points off fourth-placed Aston Villa.
Injuries need to be factored in while evaluating United this season
While there are veritable tactical questions to be asked regarding Erik ten Hag’s line-up choices this season, it is equally important to be kept in mind how restricted he has been in his ability to choose.
The Dutchman has had to make tough decisions left, right, and centre, and has been helped by Harry Maguire’s decision to fight for his place at United and not move elsewhere for game time last summer.
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United may very well miss out on Champions League football come May and go trophyless this season, which will swing public opinion against Ten Hag. But there have been issues here out of his control, and the injuries need to be taken into account by the INEOS ownership while deciding whether the Dutchman deserves another year at Old Trafford.
