Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has admitted that Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez are unlikely to make their returns from respective injuries before Christmas.
The Red Devils’ season so far has been hampered by various injury and fitness problems, and Ten Hag has rarely been able to call on his strongest preferred XI.
They are currently without Casemiro, who picked up a hamstring problem during last week’s defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup, and Lisandro Martinez, who recently underwent surgery to repair a recurring metatarsal problem.
Though Martinez was not expected to play again in 2023 anyway, Casemiro’s injury was only expected to sideline him for a few weeks. But speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with FC Copenhagen, Ten Hag revealed he too is facing a race against time to return this calendar year.
“I have some time schedules, yeah, but it’s always difficult to predict that because they can get setbacks during the rehab period, so I’m always holding back a little bit on some issues,” Ten Hag said.
“I expect some [players] back but Casemiro and Martinez are really strong injuries and I don’t expect them back before Christmas. It’s several weeks.”
In better news for United, Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire are both in line to start at Copenhagen. The forward missed Saturday’s win at Fulham having sustained a heavy knock in training, while the defender sustained a head injury early on at Craven Cottage but managed to complete the match.
“We did all the protocols during the game, after the game, so [Maguire] is ready to play,” Ten Hag continued. “Rashford? 100% [fit]. Harry was fine in the game, so no problems.
“He played a very good game. Rashy missed one game out, a small knock but he’s back.”
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