After a difficult start to the season, interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has steadied the Manchester United ship and ready for Ruben Amorim to take over.
Since his arrival, the Portuguese has spoken about wanting players with intensity and how he is wants the players to agree to his idea about how the team should look like.
Players will be desperate to impress the former Sporting Lisbon manager, who is open to offering every player a clean slate and his decision will be pivotal in contract renewals.
Club captain Bruno Fernandes is set to come back early from international duty and the partnership between skipper and coach will be crucial in driving standards higher.
Licha’s injury scare
Lisandro Martinez is another of the leaders in the dressing room and was a crucial component of Erik ten Hag’s system, having been brought to the club by the former Ajax coach.
But with the Dutchman no longer at the club, the Argentine will be keen to get along well with the new head coach and as per The Daily Mail, the World Cup winner is also slated to return early to Manchester to begin work under Amorim.
Martinez had picked up an injury during United’s league win over Leicester City, which worsened after a nightmare journey to the team base.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni announced that the 26-year-old was in no shape to face Peru and Paraguay in Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers.
But Martinez had the option of staying with the team until the end of international break but he has decided to return early. He will have a series of tests to understand the extent of damage.
“Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has travelled back from international duty early to meet new manager Ruben Amorim.
Licha set to return early
“The 26-year old was called up by Argentina to face Peru and Paraguay in their World Cup qualifiers but was ruled out after having an injury that he picked up against Leicester City evaluated.
“Martinez still had permission to stay in Argentina with his family for the entirety of the international break but began the journey back to England on Saturday so that he can begin work early with Amorim.
“His first step upon arrival in Manchester will be to undergo tests to assess the extent of the physical discomfort that prevented him from playing for Argentina.”
Hopefully, the issue is not too serious and the player can be fit for Amorim’s first test, against newly-promoted Ipswich Town. Martinez would be the perfect fit as the left-sided centre-back in the coach’s system.
Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images
Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
