Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez reportedly underwent an operation on his anterior cruciate ligament injury on Thursday, with the Argentine now beginning the long road to recovery.
Martinez damaged his ACL during Man United's last Premier League match against Crystal Palace at the start of the month, being forced off in the latter stages of what proved to be a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford.
The defender's reaction suggested that a severe injury had been suffered, and the seriousness of the damage was then confirmed by the 20-time English champions following an assessment.
According to the Daily Mail, Martinez had an operation in London on Thursday, and it is understood that the surgery was successful.
Man United are yet to release a statement confirming the surgery, but head coach Ruben Amorim is expected to be asked about the 27-year-old during his press conference on Friday to preview this weekend's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
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Martinez 'undergoes operation' on ACL injury
Martinez will be on the sidelines for at least the next six months, but it is likely that he will be out for the remainder of the calendar year, potentially returning to action in January 2026.
The Argentine has struggled with a number of fitness problems during his time at Man United, previously undergoing two operations on an injured foot, while he was out for a period of last season due to a knee issue.
Man United signed a centre-back in January, bringing in Ayden Heaven from Arsenal, although the 18-year-old is viewed as a player for the future rather than one capable of making an immediate impact.
Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro and Noussair Mazraoui are likely to rotate in the centre-back spots for the remainder of the season, while there have been suggestions that a player could be added in that area of the field this summer.
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Which other Man United players are currently injured?
Luke Shaw remains unavailable for selection, with the Englishman recently having a setback in his latest injury recovery, and it is unclear when the experienced defender will be available again.
Jonny Evans is also struggling with a muscular problem, while Mason Mount remains on the sidelines with the thigh issue that he picked up during the Manchester derby in the middle of December.
Altay Bayindir missed out against Leicester City in the FA Cup last time out due to a minor problem, but the club's number two goalkeeper is expected to be back in the squad for the clash with Tottenham.
Matt Law
