Manchester United’s opening-week defensive planning is already split by fitness. Lisandro Martínez is trending toward a return for the Premier League curtain-raiser against Hull City, while Matthijs de Ligt remains a longer-term absentee after a corrective procedure for a persistent back problem.
Martinez's return outlook
Martinez left the pitch in the World Cup final holding his thigh, so this is not exactly a clean summer reset. Even so, the club’s medical staff believe the issue is not serious, and United are optimistic he will be available for the opener.
His World Cup numbers point in the same direction. Martinez made 7 appearances, logged 651 minutes and averaged a 7.22 rating, which is a decent sign for a defender who has been carrying heavy minutes when fit.
United will take that. They need senior centre-backs available, not just bodies in training, and Martinez looks much closer to solving a real problem than De Ligt does right now.
De Ligt's longer wait
The picture is less helpful for De Ligt. The National News reported that he “won't be back in the fold until at least the autumn time”, and the wider line is harder to soften: he has not featured for the club since last November and missed the World Cup after his back procedure.
There is a small tension in the public record here. One recent league sample lists five recent appearances, but the injury report still points to a player who is not close enough to solve the immediate issue.
That is why the update matters for United’s depth. Their recent league form has been WWDWW, and they finished third in the Premier League with 71 points, so the margin for a badly timed centre-back absence is not huge. Chelsea also remain part of the wider picture in a league where the opening weeks can punish slow starts.
For now, the club has one encouraging update and one cautionary one. Martinez looks on course for Hull City, De Ligt does not, and United’s first defensive selection call of the new season is already taking shape.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
