[Getty Images]Simon Stone - Manchester United reporterThu, December 4, 2025 at 8:42 AM UTC·1 min readManchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has hinted he is having to put the brakes on Lisandro Martinez's determination to play following the Argentina defender's knee surgery.
Martinez suffered a cruciate ligament injury in February but was cleared to train with the Argentina squad during last month's international break.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe then finally made his comeback as an 82nd-minute replacement for Luke Shaw in Sunday's victory at Crystal Palace.
Amorim says the 27-year-old's determination to do more is understandable.
However, aside from the fact he is competing with 'world class' Shaw for the left-sided central defensive slot, Amorim says Martinez needs to be handled carefully in his return to action.
"Licha has a big character," said Amorim. "I feel that he stops for a year and now he wants things really fast. "You have to manage that and explain to him with that injury, we need to go step by step.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"But he's getting ready and he's feeling really strong."
Amorim has previously said he does not consider Martinez to be an alternative in central midfield and the United boss is also cautious about Shaw's capability of playing at left wing-back without extensive training.
That pits two senior international players against each other for the same position in a season where there is no European football to spread the load.
"We talked about it as a group last year," he said.
"I said we needed to win the Europa League because you have no idea what is playing one game per week and you are going to be upset because you are not going to play.
"Only 11 players can play and then you have to fight. That is the situation."
