United duo earn big accolade after their stunning performances in win over Newcastle

Manchester United pair Lisandro Martinez and Senne Lammens have been honoured with spots in a major Premier League Team of the Week XI following their exceptional performances against Newcastle. Martinez and Lammens shine vs. Newcastle Restored to the XI for the first time since his return from an ACL injury, Martinez barely put a foot wrong as United beat Newcastle 1-0 at Old Trafford. In Bruno Fernandes’ absence, Martinez was handed the armband and he showed himself to be worthy of it. He slotted alongside youngster Ayden Heaven, with the pair combining to shut down the backline. Beyond his defensive heroics, Martinez was equally impressive on the ball and played a key role in United’s build-up ball. He came close to registering an assist when he expertly picked out Diogo Dalot with a stunning diagonal, but the Portugal international couldn’t quite supply the finish to make it 2-0 after Patrick Dorgu had shed first blood in the 24th minute. After the final whistle, Ruben Amorim hailed Martinez and insisted that the World Cup winner had silenced his critics.  Amorim praised Martinez for expertly handling Nick Woltemade and Newcastle’s other physical forwards, countering the criticism the defender has faced over his height since joining United. Lammens on the other hand, set the tone early in the game with an excellent save from a corner kick. The goalkeeper left nothing to chance all game and was especially clutch in the dying embers of proceedings as the Magpies pushed for an equaliser. When needed, Lammens didn’t hesitate to come out of his line to claim the ball and take the sting out of the match. Troy Deeney named Martinez and Lammens in his BBC Premier League Team of the Week. Martinez and Lammens honoured Deeney selected Martinez as part of a defensive unit also consisting of Declan Rice (Arsenal), Kevin Danso (Tottenham Hotspur) and Archie Grat (Tottenham Hotspur). On why he picked Martiez, Deeney wrote, “He’s only 5ft7, 5ft8 and he had Nick Woltemade in his back pocket all day. It was really good to see him back playing after his massive injury.” “Him being back fit is monumental, not only for him but his World Cup aspirations as well.” Deeney wrote on Lammens, “I was going to put David Raya in but I thought one good save doesn’t get you in the Team of the Week – the bar is higher than that.” “He made four or five good saves against Newcastle, conducted his box well and has given Manchester United a platform and base to build off – which they’ve never had. All that for £18m, not bad at all.” United return to action on Tuesday evening when they host Wolverhampton Wanderers. Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!