Manchester United's defense has been dealt a significant blow as Lisandro Martinez faces a season-ending setback after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Sunday's home defeat to Crystal Palace. The 27-year-old defender was stretchered off late in the match, in what manager Ruben Amorim initially described as a "serious situation."
The club confirmed on Thursday that Martinez, affectionately known as "Licha," is undergoing assessment to determine the appropriate treatment course and rehabilitation timeline. "Everyone at Manchester United wishes Lisandro Martinez strength for a successful recovery and we will be supporting him every step of the way," the club stated in their official announcement.
This injury comes at a particularly challenging time for United, who currently sit 13th in the Premier League and have suffered their seventh loss in 13 home games this season. Adding to their defensive concerns, there are renewed doubts over left-back Luke Shaw's fitness, who hasn't started a game for United in almost 12 months. Amorim noted that Shaw is dealing with "one small issue in a different area from the last injury," prompting a cautious approach to his recovery.
Martinez's injury adds to a growing concern about ACL injuries in the Premier League this season. According to research from Ben Dinnery of Premier Injuries, Martinez becomes the tenth player to suffer an ACL injury in the current campaign. This follows Tottenham's recent announcement that Radu Dragusin sustained an ACL injury in his right knee during a Europa League match against Elfsborg.
The frequency of ACL injuries has notably increased, with seven of this season's ten cases occurring this year alone, including five in January. This marks the highest number of ACL injuries since the 2016-17 season, which saw twelve such cases. For context, the 2023-24 season recorded nine ACL injuries, with additional pre-season cases involving Emiliano Buendia and Wesley Fofana.
The issue of ACL injuries has garnered particular attention in women's football, where a three-year research project focusing on injury prevention is currently underway in the Women's Super League. Studies indicate that female footballers face a significantly higher risk, being two to six times more likely to suffer ACL injuries compared to their male counterparts.
