Lisandro Martinez Ruled Out of Everton Trip as Calf Problem Forces Late Change
Lisandro Martinez was omitted from Manchester United's matchday squad for the trip to Everton, unable to travel after picking up a calf problem during the week. The late absence forced Michael Carrick into a single change to his starting XI and leaves a short-term question over United's defensive options ahead of the coming fixtures.
Lisandro Martinez ruled out with calf injury
Martinez was not involved in the squad to face Everton on Monday night after suffering a calf issue in training during the week, which Carrick said left the Argentina international unavailable for selection. The club confirmed the Argentina defender was omitted from the squad list for the trip to Merseyside because of the calf problem. Reports set the expected absence at around one to two weeks, while other indications put it at up to two weeks, meaning he will miss the match at Everton and next Sunday's fixture against Crystal Palace; whether he will be fit to visit Newcastle on March 4 is unclear in the provided context.
Michael Carrick's decision and the Hill Dickinson Stadium lineup
For United's first visit to Hill Dickinson Stadium, Carrick made one personnel change: Leny Yoro replaced Martinez in the starting XI, with Jack Moorhouse taking the bench spot vacated by the Frenchman. Carrick explained ahead of kick-off that Martinez "picked up something during the week, " that it did not seem severe, but that the staff were "working through that" and so he was not available for the evening. The only change to the XI was Yoro replacing Martinez, a switch identical to the selection pattern Carrick had used in the previous matchdays against Tottenham and West Ham.
Injury history and recovery timeline for Martinez
Martinez had been gradually reintroduced to first-team football after a long layoff following a cruciate ligament tear. He returned to action in December after an absence of eight months, and other coverage notes he had been eased back after more than nine months recovering from the ACL injury. Since returning he had been a near-constant presence: he started every one of United's last nine Premier League matches since the Boxing Day win over Newcastle United at Old Trafford, when he captained the side, and had also started the club's previous 10 fixtures across all competitions. Muscle issues after a lengthy ACL recovery are commonplace, and that context helps explain why a calf problem has sidelined him now.
Squad availability: de Ligt, Dorgu, Mount and Carrick's options
Martinez joins Matthijs de Ligt, Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu and Mason Mount on the club's injury list ahead of Sunday's Old Trafford clash with Crystal Palace. With those absences recorded, Carrick must weigh his defensive personnel and midfield availability over the coming week. The coaching staff have already relied on Martinez heavily after the ACL recovery—he was repeatedly selected by Ruben Amorim, Darren Fletcher and then Carrick—so the head coach will have to find alternative solutions while the player recovers.
Lineup details, Yoro's circumstances and bench moves
The starting XI named for Everton featured Senne Lammens in goal, Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw across the back four; Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo in midfield; Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha in the attacking midfield roles; and Bryan Mbeumo leading the line in a 4-2-3-1. The substitutes included Atlay Bayındır, Ayden Heaven, Tyrell Malacia, Noussair Mazraoui, Jack Moorhouse, Manuel Ugarte, Tyler Fletcher, Joshua Zirkzee and Benjamin Šeško. Yoro's promotion into the starting XI came the same day it emerged he had been banned from driving for six months after being recorded at 70 miles per hour in a 30mph zone in Cheshire. Benjamin Šeško was left out of the starting lineup for the sixth consecutive game despite having rescued a point for United in their last match at West Ham; his market fee is stated at £74m in the provided context.
Carrick's early record and external reaction
Carrick has taken charge since Ruben Amorim's departure and has picked up four wins and one draw in his first five games in charge. Former team-mate Edwin van der Sar praised Carrick for restoring what he described as United's culture, saying that the recent games have resembled a more recognisable United approach and that the team have shown belief and structure in attacking phases. What makes this notable is how quickly personnel and tactical choices have changed around Martinez's return and then his sudden absence; the timing matters because United face consecutive fixtures against Everton and Crystal Palace within a short window and must manage multiple injuries while maintaining position in the league table.
With Martinez sidelined for at least the immediate fixtures, Carrick will rely on Yoro and other squad members to plug the gap left by a player who had been a frequent starter since his comeback from the ACL injury.
