Man Utd won’t rush Martinez return after injury

Even though head coach Ruben Amorim is pleased that the combative defender has returned to training, Manchester United will continue to hold it when Lisandro Martinez recovers from knee surgery.

The Argentine center-back has been out since February after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in Crystal Palace’s home defeat.

One of the reasons Amorim won’t be giving in to the player’s desire for an immediate return for the trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, November 1 will be based on that past.

The United boss said, “He wants to go to this one.” He won’t go to this one; instead, he’ll take time.

He has begun training with us, but we had to make some changes to the exercises to make them better gradually.

However, having another member of his six-man leadership group join the main squad will be a significant boost for the United boss, after previously saying his squad was “starved” of leaders.

Amorim and Sean Dyche have their first encounter at the City Ground since the new Forest manager claimed earlier in 2025 that using a traditional 4-4-2 formation would have won more games than the former Sporting boss.

Dyche and Sam Allardyce agreed that Amorim had been fortunate to survive the miserable form that saw United finish 15th in the Premier League last year in a podcast conversation.

When United had taken 27 points out of 28 league games, Dyche claimed that the philosophy was still in use but was no longer effective.

“It’s possible that I could win more games if I kept my 4-4-2.” Because they might bring in three big hitters over the summer, I might be mistaken. However, it is Man United. Normally speaking, you wouldn’t be able to endure that circumstance.

The 40-year-old said he understood why Dyche had made those remarks when they were made during Amorim’s press conference prior to the Forest game.

He countered, “Perhaps it’s true if we play 4-4-2 we would have won more games, but I’ve always said that my style of play will take some time.”

But then, I can see how both Sean Dyche and his team operate.

I don’t want to watch you if you’re a pundit and don’t use too much force. The same applies to me.