Lisandro Martínez back in Man United training, but Brighton/Forest return looks premature

Manchester United may trumpet Lisandro Martínez’s return to first‑team training, but the timing screams risk over reward. After a cycle of stop–start fitness and soft‑tissue niggles, targeting Brighton and Nottingham Forest is more bravado than prudence. From what I’m hearing, the workload progression is still conservative, and any spike could trigger a familiar setback. United fans will cling to optimism, but the reality is simple: match rhythm is miles away, and Premier League intensity is unforgiving. Expect managed minutes at best, and even that feels rushed. The opposition won’t mind; a half-fit centre-back is an invitation, not a deterrent.

British reports, including Mail Sport, indicate Lisandro Martínez is stepping back into first‑team training this week, with internal hopes he could be available around the Brighton and Nottingham Forest fixtures. The defender has endured a disrupted period with multiple fitness interruptions across the past two seasons, prompting cautious load management from the medical staff. United’s schedule intensifies over the coming weeks, increasing the temptation to accelerate his return despite recent setbacks.

🚨 BREAKING: Lisandro Martínez will step back up to first-team training this week. He is eyeing the fixtures with Brighton and Nottingham Forest as targets for his return. [Simon Jones, @MailSport]

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

From a purely football standpoint, a rushed return for Lisandro Martínez is a tactical gamble United can ill afford. His strengths—aggressive front‑foot defending, line-breaking passes, and left-footed build-up angles—do improve their structure, but only when he’s genuinely at match sharpness. If he’s short, those same traits become vulnerabilities: stepping out late leaves space behind, and heavy touches under press invite turnovers. Brighton’s rotations and third-man runs are designed to pull centre-backs out of shape, while Forest attack direct channels with pace; both scenarios punish hesitation.

Physically, the jump from rehab to Premier League tempo is the toughest phase. You can simulate intensity on the grass, but reaction speed, collision timing, and repeated accelerations only return through minutes—usually controlled ones. United’s alternatives have been patchwork, which is precisely why there’s pressure to fast-track him. Yet that creates a vicious cycle: compromised availability, another flare-up, back to square one. If he breaks down again, United lose their organizer and their build-up reference on the left, forcing full-backs to narrow and midfielders to drop deeper, which blunts transitions and exposes wide areas.

Psychologically, opponents target a recently returned centre-back with early aerials and diagonal presses. Expect Brighton to funnel traps onto his side and Forest to isolate him 1v1 in channels. The net effect? Even if he features, the risk/reward skews negative unless he’s truly cleared beyond 90-minute readiness—something the timeline strongly suggests he isn’t.

Reaction

Social chatter split quickly. The optimistic camp settled on “Good to have him back,” framing any appearance as a symbolic lift. Others immediately pivoted to broader club narratives—some waxing lyrical about elite young centre-backs elsewhere, using recent form comps to argue that United still lag in defensive recruitment. A well-known stats voice highlighted how a rival youngster has surged into top-tier defensive metrics, a pointed reminder that United’s reliance on an often-injured linchpin is precarious.

Noise levels rose with typical sidebars: takeover whispers resurfaced, fueling claims that off-pitch uncertainty bleeds into on-pitch decisions, including medical risk tolerance. There was also the usual off-topic promo spam and nostalgia posts celebrating club legends—standard fare when a fanbase looks for comfort amid inconsistent performances. Pundit debates spilled over too, with perceived double standards around strikers’ adaptation timelines being used as a proxy argument about the patience (or lack thereof) extended to United’s squad.

Netting it out: United fans want to believe Martínez’s name on a teamsheet solves structural issues. Neutrals and rivals mostly see a rushed timeline and a player who needs more than a week of training to cope with Brighton’s rotations or Forest’s direct pace. The skepticism, for once, feels earned.

Social reactions

Martinez will bring back solidarity in defence. We have conceded too many cheap goals.

don't call me Joseph (@munga__)

He won't still play till December

United Comrade (@Ndubisi941)

Good to have him back

son of big wiz 🌱 (@bigwiziii)

Prediction

Strip away the PR gloss and the likely arc is conservative: light integration in team drills this week, non-contact to contact progression, and a bench cameo target that could slip. If he’s listed for Brighton, expect “available if required” rather than penciled-in starter; for Forest, similar language with no guarantee. One reactive sprint or heavy landing could reset the clock. The safer bet is a carefully managed 10–20 minutes late in a game state that suits—if the staff resist the temptation to force minutes under pressure.

Expect opponents to test him immediately: early diagonals to his zone, split runs between full-back and centre-back, and body-to-body duels to probe confidence. If he rides those moments, United gain an outlet and a calmer left side in build-up. If not, you’ll see early substitutions and a return to conservative rest defense, which compresses United’s midfield and dulls their transitions.

Most plausible scenario: his first meaningful start lands after the Forest fixture, potentially following an additional conditioning block. Any earlier promotion to the XI increases the probability of a soft‑tissue setback within a fortnight. Rivals will plan as if he plays—and relish it if he’s even 5% off.

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Conclusion

Yes, Martínez back on the grass sounds upbeat, but the Premier League punishes wishful thinking. United’s need is obvious; their risk tolerance is the real story. History says rushing him rarely ends well, and the demands of Brighton and Forest are a blunt reintroduction. If he appears, it should be sparingly and only with clear medical thresholds met—not because a headline date was circled a week ago.

From a rival’s lens, nothing here forces a rethink. The defensive structure remains fragile without a fully fit Martínez, and even with him, cohesion takes weeks, not days. Opponents will stress his side early and often; any hesitation will be magnified. The unavoidable truth: United’s best outcome is a patient ramp-up post-Forest, not a heroic short-term fix. Until then, the advantage tilts away from Old Trafford—exactly where their rivals want it.