Manchester United fear defender Lisandro Martinez will miss the rest of the season after picking up a serious knee injury in the defeat to Crystal Palace. Argentina international Martinez was carried from the Old Trafford pitch in tears after tangling with Palace's Ismaila Sarr in the 82nd minute of Sunday's 2-0 loss. United boss Ruben Amorim immediately delivered a bleak update on the former Ajax defender, saying: "Licha is really important for us. Not just as a football player but as a character, especially in this hard moment. Now it’s time to help Licha like he’s doing for so long.

"I think it’s a bad situation. Let’s wait to assess things with the doctor but I think it’s a serious situation.". United feel Martinez is unlikely to play again this season, with the club set to confirm his official diagnosis later this week once he has undergone further tests. United released a statement shortly after Martinez was withdrawn saying: "Our hearts break for you, Licha. We'll be with you during your recovery and know you'll be back stronger.".

The setback for Martinez, 27, is the latest in a long line of injuries for the World Cup winner, who was named as United's player of the month for January after scoring goals in the 2-2 draw at Liverpool and 1-0 win at Fulham. He was absent for the final six weeks of the 2022-23 season after fracturing a metatarsal, before undergoing surgery in September 2023 that sidelined him for four months. He then missed eight weeks between February and March last year with a ligament injury, which preceded a six-and-a-half week layoff with a calf issue.

Martinez's injury leaves United boss Amorim likely to rely on Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro as his first choice back three for the remainder of the season. Luke Shaw has recently returned to training and could be used in the left-sided centre-back role, while the futures of Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans are uncertain, with Lindelof out of contract at the end of the season and Evans potentially set to retire.

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