Worst-case scenario for Lisandro Martinez: Man Utd fear key defender is out for the season after horror knee injury in Crystal Palace defeat

The World Cup-winning Argentina international picked up an untimely blow in Premier League action at Old Trafford. Martinez was stretchered from the field in tears following an innocuous-looking tussle with Eagles winger Ismaila Sarr.

According to the Manchester Evening News, sources believe Martinez is unlikely to play again in 2024-25. United are still assessing the severity of the South American’s injury, with around 24 hours required in order to deliver a definitive diagnosis.

Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim told reporters after seeing Martinez forced out of a demoralising 2-0 defeat for United against Palace: “I think it is a serious situation. A bad situation for us and especially for Licha. I think we are going to see in the next days but I think it is a serious situation.

“It's really hard on us, he's not just a great player but a strong character in the dressing room. Especially in this moment, it's hard for us. Now it is time for all of us to help Licha. He felt it and, when you are a player, you know when it is serious. Let's hope for better days for him. We are here, like I say, to help him in this difficult moment.”

This is not the first serious injury that Martinez has suffered during his time in England. He missed six weeks at the end of the 2022-23 campaign with a fractured metatarsal and was out for four months after undergoing corrective surgery in September 2023. He was also absent for eight weeks across February and March last year with medial ligament damage, before sitting out six-and-a-half weeks with a calf complaint.