Ruben Amorim has revealed that Lisandro Martinez is closing in on a return to full team training.
The Argentine defender tore his ACL in February and it was feared he could miss a full year of football. He has been training individually in recent weeks, though, and Amorim thinks he could return to the pitch soon.
Speaking ahead of United’s Premier League meeting with Brighton, he said: “I don't know when he will be fit. He trained really well, not with us but on the next pitch and I was watching the training.
“He is feeling well and responding well, so I don't want to say a specific day or one week, but he is near to start training with the team.”
He continued, saying he expected Martinez to fight for his place in the side after getting back to full match fitness: “Then it depends on the rhythm of Licha, if he wins the place or not.
“That will depend on him but he is closer to a return to training.”
He added that Harry Maguire and Mason Mount are both doubts to face Brighton after picking up knocks, but confirmed both injuries were “nothing serious.”
He is not expecting an easy game as Brighton visit Old Trafford on Saturday. A self-confessed “huge fan” of Fabian Hurzeler, Amorim said he is wary of the Seagull’s transitions.
“It is going to be a very difficult game,” he said. “Brighton are really fun to watch, they are really good on build-up, they are really strong on transitions, in every aspect of the game.
“They are a team who are really complete. We need to be really smart and to face that game with a real focus on everything that we do because they are a very strong team.
“They are really intense, the quality is there. They believe a lot in what they are doing even under pressure, so I am a huge fan of him (Hurzeler).”
