After a long 24-day wait, today marks the return of Premier League action for Manchester United.
The stage is set for the Reds to move one step closer to securing Champions League football for next season. A win today would put the club ten points clear of Chelsea, who sit in sixth.
As clichés go, the match against Leeds United will weigh heavier than just three points accrued in the league. It is interim boss Michael Carrick’s first Roses Derby in charge, as Ruben Amorim led the side to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road in January.
The three-week gap since the last match has allowed the camp to travel to Ireland for an intensive training camp. Moreover, it has allowed sidelined players such as Lisandro Martinez to return without missing much action.
Lisandro Martinez Starts
The showdown begins 8PM (BST) in front of an impatient home crowd who last saw their team in the flesh on 15 March against Aston Villa.
For Martinez, the wait to get back onto the pitch has been much longer. The Argentine last played in a 1-1 draw against West Ham United on 10 February. The 28 year-old did travel with the squad on their trip to Ireland last week.
Overall, Martinez has been limited to just fifteen appearances for the Reds this season. He missed the first 11 games of the campaign as he was still recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Since the game against the Hammers, he has been sidelined with a separate calf injury.
Carrick has decided to start with the central defender for the derby. However, there is a fresh injury concern for the team. Kobbie Mainoo misses out due to an injury, with Manuel Ugarte making a rare start. It will mark the first time that the 20-year-old does not play under the interim boss.
Martinez Return is Morale Boost
Daniel Farke’s side is missing two of their best players in Joe Rodon and Anton Stach. Their absence will mean that the opponents will lack in some spirit and physicality. On the flip side, the Red Devils will be welcoming back a World Cup winner who will be raring to go.
Harry Maguire’s suspension means that Martinez has a chance to impress, albeit he will take a few games to get back to full rhythm. However, he has been thrown into the deep end by Carrick. Ayden Heaven has been named on the bench, so it is expected that Martinez will not get the full 90 minutes.
The centreback’s return is a welcome morale booster for the squad. His experience is unmatched, especially when the squad is missing Matthijs De Ligt’s seniority due to a prolonged back injury. Leny Yoro, who partners Martinez tonight, will benefit most in a high-pressure game that the Reds are expected to win.
