Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

Manchester United suffer double injury blow as duo are ruled out for a month

sportsmole.co.uk, 2 April 2024, 20:44
Manchester United have revealed that central defenders Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez will be out of action "for at least a month".

Lindelof was replaced in the second half of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Brentford after picking up a hamstring problem, and the Sweden international will now not be back on the field until May.

Man United have also suffered more bad news when it comes to Martinez, with the Argentina international picking up a calf strain during a training session.

"Manchester United centre-backs Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez will be out of action for at least a month due to muscle injuries," read a statement on the club's official website.

"Sweden captain Lindelof was withdrawn during the second half of last Saturday's Premier League game against Brentford with a hamstring problem.

Martinez's injury problems continue

"Victor was replaced by Martinez after 69 minutes, as the Argentina international made his first appearance since early February. Unfortunately, Licha has now sustained a calf strain in training and is unavailable for the next few games."

Martinez made his 11th appearance of the season against Brentford, having worked his way back from a knee problem which he suffered against West Ham United at the start of February.

However, the 26-year-old is now facing more time on the sidelines, with the defender having a nightmare 12 months in terms of fitness problems.

Martinez underwent an operation last April to fix the fractured metatarsal that he suffered against Sevilla in the Europa League, but he was present for the start of pre-season training.

Martinez, Lindelof hopeful of being back before the end of the season

The Argentine suffered with pain in the same area in the early stages of this season, though, with scans revealing that the injury had not fully healed, which led to more surgery and another lengthy recovery period.

Man United will take on Chelsea, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Sheffield United and Burnley in their next five Premier League matches, and the defensive duo are set to be absent for all of those matches.

Meanwhile, the pair will be missing for the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City at Wembley on April 21.

However, they could potentially return for the team's final three league games of the season against Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion, in addition to the FA Cup final, should Man United make it.

Raphael Varane was substituted at the interval of the clash with Brentford last time out due to a fitness scare but is set to be fit for the visit to Chelsea on Thursday, and he is likely to be joined by fit-again Harry Maguire in the middle of the defence.

Top News

19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Athletic Bilbao vs. Sevilla (Sunday, 6.00pm) Sevilla will look to bounce back from consecutive defeats when they travel to San Mames for Sunday's La Liga clash with Athletic Bilbao. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal vs. Everton (Sunday, 4.00pm) A glistening Premier League trophy will be ready and waiting at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, where victory for Arsenal over Everton could propel the Gunners to top-flight supremacy. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United's Mason Greenwood is now the subject of interest from a Champions League finalist ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a report. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly joined Premier League rivals Manchester United in the race to sign a highly-rated Championship head coach amid doubts over Mauricio Pochettino's future. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly struck a verbal agreement to sign a highly-rated Brazilian teenager for the summer of 2025. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On Monday, Croatia Under-17s will kick off the European Under-17 Championship against Austria Under-17s at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tournament hosts Cyprus Under-17s will face Czech Republic Under-17s in Monday's European Under-17 Championship clash. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will once again be without the services of two key players for Sunday's La Liga clash against Villarreal. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has insisted that "the good times will come" for the Red Devils, with the Dutchman again hailing the club's fans for their support this season. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Round nine of the Norwegian Eliteserien sees struggling Kristiansund hosting high-flying SK Brann at the Nordmore Stadium on Monday. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk San Lorenzo can extend their winning run at Estadio Pedro Bidegain to three matches in all competitions when they host Lanus on Monday. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly keen on Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and could activate a secret release clause of €70m (£60m) in his contract at Anfield. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Serbia Under-17s will kick off the Under-17 European Championship in Monday's clash with Ukraine Under-17s in Paralimni. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has admitted that he has struggled to adapt to playing in the middle of the team's defence. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On Monday, Denmark Under-17s will begin their European Under-17 Championship campaign against Wales Under-17s at the Dasaki Stadium in Achna, Cyprus. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be bidding to make it 10 La Liga wins in a row when they head to European-chasing Villarreal on Sunday night. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in Spain's top flight when they welcome Rayo Vallecano to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday evening. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica are reportedly unlikely to allow Manchester United-linked Joao Neves to leave the club during this summer's transfer window unless his full €100m (£86m) release clause is met. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bruno Fernandes is reportedly demanding a new and improved contract at Manchester United in order to commit his future to the club. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Eder Militao is in his thinking when it comes to a starting role for the Champions League final. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea Women have won their fifth successive Women's Super League title in Emma Hayes's final season in charge thanks to a 6-0 crushing of Manchester United Women at Old Trafford. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi has insisted that "nothing has changed" regarding his future amid claims that he could leave the Catalan giants at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi has insisted that "nothing has changed" regarding his future amid claims that he could leave the Catalan giants at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Italian giants AC Milan are reportedly optimistic of winning the race for a highly-rated Serie A striker also on the radar of Arsenal and Manchester United. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea will be looking to secure a top-six finish and qualify for European competition when they welcome top-10 hopefuls Bournemouth to Stamford Bridge for their final Premier League game of the season on Sunday. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will be crowned Premier League champions for a record fourth consecutive season if they beat West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in their final game of the 2023-24 season on Sunday. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to secure Europa Conference League football for next season, Manchester United travel to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton & Hove Albion in their final Premier League game of the 2023-24 season on Sunday. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The day that all Liverpool fans dreaded is nearly upon us, as Jurgen Klopp takes charge of his last game for the Reds in Sunday's Premier League finale with Wolverhampton Wanderers. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Still at risk of failing to qualify for next year's Europa League, Tottenham Hotspur head to Sheffield United's Bramall Lane base for their final Premier League match of the 2023-24 season on Sunday. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Knowing that whatever they do might not be enough for Premier League glory, Arsenal host Everton at the Emirates in Sunday afternoon's closing act.