Manchester United's new signing might be thrown into deep end after injury blow

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The worst was feared when Lisandro Martinez fell to the ground against Crystal Palace last weekend. Martinez's knee appeared to buckle as he landed from an aerial duel and, unfortunately, it was confirmed on Monday evening that he'd torn the cruciate ligament in his knee.

Martinez was distraught as he was taken off the pitch on a stretcher and he now faces a spell of between six and nine months on the sidelines, depending on his rehabilitation.

The 27-year-old will require surgery and faces another long road to recovery, almost exactly a year on since he damaged the medial collateral ligament in his knee against West Ham on February 4, 2024, which meant he was absent for three months at the back end of last season.

It is rotten luck for Martinez to pick up another - and more serious - knee injury and Ruben Amorim said it was "really bad news" for his team when he provided a brief update on Sunday.

During his press conference, Amorim added: "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."

Martinez's form had been disappointing until the last month or so, but the centre-back seemed to turn a corner and his roaming runs forward became a staple of United's attacks.

United are that toothless, Martinez's absence will have a negative impact on their attacking threat. His goal in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield was brilliant and he was responsible for providing a much-needed breakthrough against Fulham, albeit his goal was deflected.

Martinez also provided a superb assist for Amad's winning goal against Manchester City last month, any played another brilliant pass for Bruno Fernandes' last-minute goal against Rangers.

Not many defenders can step out from a deep position and contribute to attacks with a dynamic range of passing and that is perhaps the skill in Martinez's locker that United will miss most.

They will miss his defensive quality, dressing room presence and mentality, of course, but United didn't move for a centre-back on deadline day because they believe they have enough cover.

Leny Yoro has settled in, Victor Lindelof is available again, Jonny Evans is set to return from injury and Luke Shaw operated as a left sided centre-back in each of his appearances under Amorim, while Ayden Heaven completed a permanent move to United from Arsenal last week.

Noussair Mazraoui can also play as a right-sided centre-back and there should be enough cover without having to throw new boy Heaven into the deep end in the coming weeks.

Football has a tendency to surprise, though, and Heaven might be needed sooner than anticipated. Although he is just 18-years-old, sources confirmed Heaven was seen as a signing for the first-team and that raised the possibility of Amorim handing him a debut in the coming weeks.

Mikel Arteta handed Heaven his senior Arsenal debut in a Carabao Cup tie in October, but he rejected a new contract at the London club and is set to relocate to Manchester.

Heaven made a strong impression in a pre-season friendly against United in the United States last summer, and Borussia Dortmund's were interested in him, which is usually a good sign.

Ideally, Heaven will be given time to settle, but he might become important this season.

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