Rashford and Martinez out! Man Utd injury crisis a golden chance for FOUR stars

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 14 Apr 2023 08:03 BST
• 5 min read

Manchester United have hit an injury crisis at the worst time possible, with Marcus Rashford set to be joined on the sidelines by Lisandro Martinez.

With the crucial final games of the season approaching, manager Erik ten Hag is without his leading scorer and is also set to be shorn of one of the Premier League’s best centre-back performers this season in the form of Lisandro.

While Rashford pulled up late in last weekend’s victory over Everton, Lisandro was carried off in a 2-2 Europa League draw at Old Trafford against Sevilla. Raphael Varane had already gone off at the break with a problem.

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It is unclear how long these players will be out for. Rashford is not expected back before the beginning of May, with those the most optimistic forecasts of his return, while Ten Hag has only revealed that the Argentine’s issue “does not look that great”. Varane's problem, meanwhile, is unlikely to be as serious but is problematic in the circumstances.

United’s injury headache is not caused so much by their number, but by the important nature of the players who are missing.

But these issues do, however, provide a unique opportunity for four players to save their Old Trafford careers, with Ten Hag thought to have been ready to sell all three in the summer.

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Harry Maguire

The England international centre-back has been a peripheral figure this season, but if Lisandro misses several weeks, this will provide the opening for the 30-year-old to prove himself to Ten Hag.

The former Ajax boss has already hinted that the former Leicester player’s Old Trafford career is not over after he started and impressed against Everton.

Ten Hag said after that match: "Maguire was dominating, dictating. This is a different Harry to what I've seen in the first weeks and months. He's taking so much initiative, dominating his opponent, stepping in, bringing passes.”

Now is his chance to prove he can do this on a regular basis.

Jadon Sancho

The next few weeks might not be quite as decisive for Jadon Sancho as the other players on this list, but there is a lingering sense that the 23-year-old winger could be deemed surplus to requirements after a poor campaign.

Rashford is now the preferred option on the left and Antony is favoured on the right, despite a mediocre debut campaign, and that has left Sancho as the odd man out. When a striker comes in during the summer, this situation will only be exaggerated.

Sancho might not be playing for his future to the extent as some others at Old Trafford, but if he doesn’t perform, he will slide down the pecking order and give the Man Utd hierarchy something to consider in the summer.

Anthony Martial

What the future holds for Anthony Martial is not yet clear, but with Manchester United having made their summer transfer priority a move for a No.9, the prospect of him being first choice at the club next season is slim. But the Frenchman needs to prove that he still has a role of some sorts to play, and that means stepped up effectively in the absence of Rashford at crunch time in the season.

He’s done a promising job so far. After creating an assist when given a 30-minute runout against Everton last weekend, he followed that up with another decisive pass against Sevilla.

United have a strong record when he has played this season, but he must prove his ability to be decisive over a prolonged period. Another injury now could be fatal for his chances of remaining at Man Utd.

Wout Weghorst

It may already be too late for Weghorst to save his Man Utd career from a predictable end after just half a season at the club. Signed as a panic loan deal towards the end of the January transfer window, the Netherlands striker has just one goal since arriving at the club and has yet to strike in the Premier League.

If he can go goal crazy in the final games of the season, he could still give himself a chance. If Rashford was fit, even the prospect of getting minutes was a distant one.

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