Michael Carrick has provided a positive update on Lisandro Martinez’s fitness ahead of Manchester United’s clash with Leeds, suggesting the defender ought to be in line to play an element at Old Trafford.
Martinez has missed United’s last five matches as a result of a calf injury, last featuring within the side’s 1-1 draw away to West Ham within the Premier League on February 10.
There had been hopes that Martinez could make his comeback for United’s match with Aston Villa last month, just for the 28-year-old centre-back to suffer one other ‘slight response’ on the training ground.
The setback meant the Argentina international also had to take a seat out the Red Devils’ 1-1 draw with Bournemouth before the international break, with Leny Yoro continuing his run within the side alongside Harry Maguire.
But Maguire’s sending off on the Vitality Stadium means the England centre-half might be suspended for next Monday’s contest versus Leeds – and Martinez has been stepping up his rehabilitation in a race to be back fit.
United fans breathed a collective sigh of relief as Martinez was included in Carrick’s 25-man squad for this week’s intensive training camp within the Republic of Ireland.
Patrick Dorgu also made the trip across the Irish Sea following a protracted injury layoff and there are hopes that he, too, may very well be in contention to play an element on the Theatre of Dreams in five days’ time.
‘The break has actually worked in our favour in some ways by way of getting players back,’ Carrick said in an interview with United’s in-house media team.
‘Mason [Mount] is back in and around it and has been training. He’s had that time period to construct it up.
‘To have Licha [Martinez] back in and around us this week is sweet
‘Obviously Harry [Maguire] goes to miss the [Leeds] game so to have Licha back in and around it, with Leny [Yoro] and Ayden [Heaven], we just wish to keep getting stronger as a bunch really.
‘That’s a part of what we’re attempting to do that week.’
Carrick was relieved that each one of his players returned unscathed from international duty, with the camp in ‘good spirits’ in preparation for his or her all-important run-in within the Premier League.
‘The break was fantastic. I spent one or two days at home but we’ve had plenty of coaching as well with the boys that were with us,’ he added.
‘It’s been a superb spell really for that basically, players going everywhere in the world, and it was nice to have them back.
‘The boys are in good spirits so it’s good to have them back together again.
‘In the mean time, everyone seems to be in good condition which is agreeable since you never really know with them going away, some playing two games and a few may not play an awful lot of minutes.
‘You would like everyone to come back back secure and sound, thankfully, in the intervening time, everyone’s in good condition.
‘It’s necessary we come here [Republic of Ireland] and refocus, regroup. We’ve come away and the boys are in really good spirits so it’s good.
‘Big run-in for us, necessary games coming up. The boys are really focused on that now.’
After an prolonged break away from the Premier League , Carrick is confident his squad might be feeling recharged and energised by the point they take to the sector against bitter rivals Leeds.
‘The 24-day gap looks like a protracted time but factoring within the internationals, it’s worked out alright to be honest,’ the United head coach went on.
‘Players are still playing, training, going away and getting a little bit of a fresh environment as well, not having to rush back from internationals.
‘It’s given the boys an additional few days to spend time with their families or wherever they’ve ended up being.
‘It doesn’t feel as long and we’ve ended up with a superb week of prep going into Leeds on Monday night which is pretty normal, so I feel we’ve made the very best of it.’
Despite dropping points of their last encounter, Carrick believes his Champions League-chasing squad have put themselves in a robust position with seven games remaining of the campaign.
‘We’ve actually built momentum. It’s a difficult league and you’ll be able to see that, whoever you’re playing, there’s not many easy games, if any, on this league,’ he continued.
‘You may see the mixture of results so I feel to expect all the things to go swimmingly will not be at all times that realistic.
‘We understand that it’s not at all times going to come back easy and there is likely to be just a few little blips and ups and downs. It’s not what we attempt for however it’s going to occur in some unspecified time in the future.
‘But we’ve managed to create that momentum and particularly at home, we’ve played ever so well and had some big results.
‘We’re actually looking forward to getting back to Old Trafford. It’s such a giant, necessary game for us.’
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