Lisandro Martínez close to full training after knee scan — but real match-readiness is weeks away

Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martínez has received encouraging results from a recent scan on his left knee and is nearing a return to full training. Club staff intend to manage his workload conservatively, avoiding any rush back into competitive action. As a former pro, I’ve seen this before: training clearance isn’t the same as match sharpness, especially for a defender who lives on timing and aggression. United supporters are buoyed by the update, but the smart money says he will be eased in gradually, with minutes controlled and no shortcuts, particularly with high-intensity fixtures on the horizon.

Multiple reputable reports late last week indicated Martínez’s left-knee scan returned positive findings, clearing the path for his reintegration with the first-team group at Carrington. Club medical staff will follow a phased plan, reflecting the defender’s recent stop-start fitness history. Internal guidance stresses caution rather than deadlines, with focus on controlled training markers and reaction to increased loads. United’s upcoming schedule adds context: the club needs depth at centre-back, yet acknowledges the risks of accelerating a defender’s return before match rhythm is rebuilt. The update frames optimism around training progress, not an immediate competitive comeback.

🚨 BREAKING: Lisandro Martinez is close to returning to full training with Manchester United. Martinez had positive results from a scan on his left knee late last week. United will not rush the 27-year-old back to action. [@SkySportsLyall]

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

Let’s cut through the sugar-coating. Positive scan or not, knee rehabs aren’t linear, and for a centre-back who thrives on sharp pivots, front-foot duels and split-second interceptions, "close to full training" doesn’t equal close to match dominance. From experience, defenders need three layers: medical clearance, training robustness, and competitive rhythm under pressure. Martínez is at step one-and-a-half. Throw him into a Premier League tempo too soon and you risk swelling, setbacks and a second reset that costs months rather than weeks.

United’s structure without him has wobbled, and that fuels the rush narrative. But even when he’s back on the grass, he’ll arrive rusty. His distribution under press, the timing of his step-outs, and the chemistry with his partner take real minutes to rebuild. That’s before we mention sprint-load tolerance, repeated changes of direction, and aerial contact — the exact stressors that punish a recovering knee. If United are serious about protecting their asset, they’ll drip-feed him: late cameos, then low-risk starts, then real tests. Realistically, a fully convincing Martínez — the snarling, proactive anchor fans remember — is more likely weeks away, not days. And if the schedule turns frantic, the medical team’s caution will win out, like it or not.

Reaction

Social chatter split quickly. United-leaning timelines greeted the news with relief: "good to have Licha back soon" and "rock-solid upgrade" were common refrains, the sentiment being that his leadership and left-footed build-up immediately tidy their back line. Others reminded the crowd that the club won’t rush him, echoing the official tone of caution. A subset of fans projected straight to the next marquee fixture, dreaming that even a 20-minute cameo could steady late-game jitters.

On the flip side, rival fans (and a few weary United supporters) pushed back. They argued that the team’s defensive issues are systemic — press coordination, protection in front of the back four, and transition defense — not just the absence of one centre-back. Some also flagged the pattern of stop-start recoveries in recent seasons, warning that the first week of full training often produces false dawns. There was the usual side-chatter too: goalkeeper debates and youth prospects briefly hijacked threads, but the core mood hovered between cautious optimism and hard-nosed skepticism. Net-net: hopeful noises, tempered by the memory of how unforgiving the calendar can be.

Social reactions

Tbh, his coming back is gonna hit like a rock solid. He's gonna be a joy to watch again cus having him joining the group will be a big upgrade to our defensive problems

Paul Daniel🗽 (@DanielPaul75)

United will not rush the 27-year-old back to action.

Priscillia Oduwa🦋💙 (@Oduwaprisie)

Licha nearing a return is good news

Sanaipei M (@Sanaipei_Cutie)

Prediction

Here’s the honest read from someone who’s lived through these timelines. Expect a staggered reintroduction: a full week or two of complete training loads, an internal match or behind-closed-doors minutes to test reactions, then a bench appearance with a 10–20 minute buffer in a fixture where game state allows control. If he tolerates that without swelling or soreness, a first start follows — ideally against an opponent that won’t force repeated emergency defending in the channels.

United will likely pair him with a more conservative partner, asking the full-backs to tuck in and the No. 6 to screen aggressively to keep his defensive exposures predictable. On the ball, they’ll lean on his diagonals and line-breaking passes only after he’s shown comfort receiving under pressure. Worst-case scenario is a minor reaction that pushes the timeline back another 10–14 days; best-case is a smooth climb where he looks like himself by the third or fourth appearance. Either way, don’t expect peak Martínez before a handful of competitive outings — match rhythm is earned, not declared.

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Conclusion

Positive scans are a step, not a destination. United are right to ease Lisandro Martínez back, because what they need is not a cameo hero but a durable stabilizer for the run of fixtures ahead. The temptation will be to conflate his return with instant defensive clarity; that’s where teams stumble. Build-up may improve with his left foot back in circulation, but the collective out-of-possession habits — distances between lines, protection in transitions, and rest-defense discipline — must catch up too.

From a rival’s lens, I’d say the noise outpaces the reality. He’s close to training, not close to top form. If United protect him now, they’ll have a formidable piece for the months that matter. If they gamble, the cycle of hope and setback repeats. The sensible path is gradual minutes, carefully selected starts, and zero shortcuts. When he finally looks like the snarling, front-foot Martínez again, you’ll know — because United’s back line will stop surviving moments and start controlling matches. Until then, patience beats headlines.