ERIK TEN HAG has a fresh injury worry ahead of Manchester United’s return to Premier League action.
The Red Devils have already lost defenders Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia to long-term injuries while summer signing Mason Mount has been sidelined in midfield with a thigh issue.
GettyErik ten Hag is sweating on the fitness of Lisandro Martinez to face Brighton[/caption]
Ten Hag’s side have endured a miserable start to the campaign and are already six points behind neighbours and reigning champions Manchester City.
United have already lost twice, to Spurs and Arsenal, sandwiching unconvincing home victories over Wolves and Nottingham Forest.
They have also been rocked by boss Ten Hag’s public fall-out with Jadon Sancho.
Meanwhile, away from the pitch, £85.5million star Antony has been accused of domestic violence by his ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin, with domestic abuse campaigners urging the Manchester giants to ditch him.
Now after confirming his 25-man Premier League squad and club chiefs stepping in to try and resolve the spat with Sancho, Ten Hag is hoping to finally get their campaign up-and-running when they host high-flying Brighton at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Unfortunately for him it has now emerged in The Telegraph that there “are thought to be more doubts over Lisandro Martinez’s availability” to face the Seagulls.
The defender came off in the loss at Arsenal due to an issue with his right foot, the same one that he suffered a broken metatarsal in towards the end of last season.
The 25-year-old centre-half still travelled for international duty with Argentina and did take part in some training sessions.
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But he was not included in the squad for their 3-0 World Cup qualifier victory in Bolivia on Tuesday and also missed their previous 1-0 win over Ecuador last week.
Now Ten Hag will be sweating to discover whether Martinez will be fit enough to line-up in his already weakened backline.
However, Ten Hag does hope to have new signing Sofyan Amrabat available.
The deadline day loan signing from Fiorentina pulled out of the Morocco squad due to injury last week.
United were aware of a slight problem with the midfielder’s back but still allowed him to join up with his national side for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia.
But the 27-year-old sat out that fixture and the friendly with Burkina Faso as a precaution and is now back with United’s squad at Carrington.
And he could now be set to make his debut this weekend.
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