- The Portuguese makes his Old Trafford bow in Europa League clash on Thursday
- Amorim also revealed the progress on summer signing Leny Yoro’s recovery
- Liverpool correspondent LEWIS STEELE tells all on bombshell chat with Mo Salah – LISTEN NOW to It’s All Kicking Off! New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Manchester United have been handed an injury boost ahead of Ruben Amorim‘s first game at Old Trafford as Lisandro Martinez is set to return after missing Sunday’s draw against Ipswich.
The Portuguese manager assumed the United hot seat at the start of the international break after an emotional farewell at Sporting Lisbon, where he lifted two titles.
His first match got off to a dream start with Marcus Rashford scoring in the second minute but Ipswich surged back into the contest and secured a deserved 1-1 draw at Portman Road.
Now Amorim’s attention turns to his Old Trafford bow against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night with United currently stranded in mid-table in the Europa League on six points from four games.
And the new boss arrived at the pre-match press conference today bearing positive injury news with two key defenders having returned to training as the crisis at the back eases.
The 39-year-old revealed that both Martinez and English centre-back Harry Maguire had been among the first-team squad on Wednesday.
Lisandro Martinez (right) was back in training today providing a huge boost for Man United
Harry Maguire (left) and Mason Mount (right) were also present but Maguire remains a doubt
Ruben Amorim will be hoping for a win over Bodo/Glimt in his first home match in charge
Asked whether they would be fit to play in the Europa League, Amorim said: ‘Not Harry, Licha [Lisandro Martinez] is ready. He didn’t stop too much time, so I feel he is ready. The situation is different to Harry’s.’
The news is well-timed after the boss headed into his opening match with heavily limited options at the back, given that Maguire, Martinez, Leny Yoro, Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw were all out injured.
Martinez has been a regular for United this term but Maguire has been absent since October thanks to a muscle problem picked up in the draw against Aston Villa.
Swearing by a 3-4-3 system which requires three centre-backs, Amorim will welcome the return of the pair in the coming weeks, and can also look forward to Yoro’s long-awaited comeback.
‘He is training,’ he said. ‘We believe a lot of him and we are preparing the best way to start with Leny.’
The French centre-back, who arrived from Lille in the summer for £52.2 million, has been injured since the start of August after breaking his foot during a pre-season friendly match against Arsenal.
Yoro was not part of the main group at training on Wednesday but Shaw and Malacia featured, as did midfielders Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo.
Lindelof meanwhile picked up a groin injury in Sweden’s match against Slovakia earlier this month.
The Portuguese arrived at Old Trafford from Sporting having won two league titles at the club
Players, including Rasmus Hojlund (left) and Marcus Rashford (2nd right) looked in good spirits
Luke Shaw (left) remains on the sidelines but could also be seen in training on Wednesday
Rashford got Amorim’s United off to a flying start with a goal inside just two minutes on Sunday
Amorim will be looking to introduce himself to the Old Trafford faithful with his first win as United manager and a clash against unfancied Norweigan outfit Bodo/Glimt offers the perfect opportunity to do so.
He took over from beleagured boss Erik ten Hag after United’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham proved to be one too many for the Dutchman.
United acted quickly to secure the services of Sporting boss Amorim but were unable to prevent a notice period which kept the manager in Portugal for an additional three games.
He arrived on a three-year contract, bringing in his own team of backroom staff and opting not to hold on to interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy.