MART MOVE 

Man Utd boost as Lisandro Martinez returns to first-team training after horror ACL injury

LISANDRO MARTINEZ has ramped up his comeback after returning to full training with the Manchester United first team.

The centre-back, 27, trained at Carrington on Wednesday for the first time since suffering a significant ACL injury in February that required surgery.

A tearful Martinez was taken off on a stretcher in the late stages of United’s 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford eight months ago.

Ruben Amorim refused to put a date on the Argentina international’s return to the matchday squad when quizzed last week.

Amorim said: “He’s feeling well. “The knee is responding really well, so I don’t want to say one specific day or one week.

“I don’t know, but it’s near to start the training with the team.

“Then it depends on the rhythm of Licha, if he wins the place or not, that will depend on him, but he’s closer to return to training.”

Saturday’s Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest will come too soon for Martinez to return to the pitch.

But there is a chance he could be involved in the matchday squad when United face Tottenham in North London the following weekend.

Martinez, whose contract expires in 2027, injured his ankle as he challenged for the ball with Palace winger Ismaila Sarr.

He started outdoor training towards the end of United’s pre-season tour in late July and was pictured earlier this month doing individual sessions at Carrington as part of his rehabilitation.

The fan favourite defender, known as The Butcher, has been plagued by injury problems since joining the Red Devils in July 2022.

Martinez has missed more games through injury than he has played for United.

The club’s No6 has been sidelined for 92 games in total, playing 91 since joining from Ajax in 2022.

He spent months on the treatment table in his first season at the club after breaking his metatarsal in April 2023.

Corrective surgery months later ruled him out until January 2024.

Soon after returning from that setback the defender picked up another freak injury when his knee bent awkwardly during a tussle with former West Ham star Vladimir Coufal in February 2024, ruling him out for eight weeks.

Luke Shaw has started all nine of United’s Premier League matches on the left of Amorim’s back three.

Harry Maguire missed United’s 4-2 triumph over Brighton last time after picking up a knock at Anfield, where his late header secured a rare 2-1 victory at Liverpool.