Martinez Back with the Lads as United Juggle Seven Injury Puzzles on Irish Tour

Manchester United have pitched up in the Republic of Ireland with a friendly against Leeds in Dublin on Wednesday, then it’s off to Poland to round out pre-season against AC Milan. It’s been a proper trek across Europe — Finland, Norway, Sweden — and now Ireland, with the squad nursing a fair few knocks carried over from the end of last season and the World Cup.

Top headline? Lisandro Martinez has linked up with the group — a welcome sight — while the medical team keep a watching brief on six other names. Here’s the state of play, and what it means as the minutes start to matter.

Lisandro Martinez

Martinez joined camp a day after the rest, and — as noted by journalist Samuel Luckhurst — there’s no injury drama behind it. He was afforded an extra breather after playing in a World Cup final just three weeks back. With such a short turnaround and his previous issues in mind, you’d expect a gentle reintroduction. Leeds in midweek may come too soon, but getting him back around the group is the big win.

Matthijs de Ligt

The Dutchman is on-site in Ireland as he continues rehab from back surgery carried out three months ago. The recovery is described as on schedule, but don’t bank on him for the Premier League curtain-raiser. He’s not yet cleared for full training or match action; this leg of the trip is more about camaraderie than crunching tackles.

Benjamin Sesko

Sesko has also rejoined the squad this week after spending time at Carrington to step up his recovery while the lads were in Sweden facing PSG. He’s yet to feature in pre-season, and it’s still touch-and-go for Leeds, but simply having him on the grass with teammates is a step forward. United won’t rush a centre-forward with that profile — patience could pay off quickly once he’s sharp.

Manuel Ugarte

Ugarte is the one notable absentee from the Irish camp. The club confirmed in July he underwent surgery on a knee ligament issue sustained at the World Cup. No firm timeline has been set, and the wording points to a lengthy stint on the sidelines. The priority is a full recovery; anything sooner would be a bonus.

Kobbie Mainoo

Mainoo missed England’s World Cup finale with a back problem, but local reports suggest he’s trending towards a return. He’s flown out to Ireland and could be in the conversation for minutes against Leeds if he ticks the final boxes. No heroics needed — easing him in now is smarter than chasing lost time later.

Mason Mount

Mount’s outing against PSG was cut short after 18 minutes, but the word from Carrick was reassuring: he took a whack and they weren’t taking chances. Given his stop-start fitness since arriving at Old Trafford, the cautious call made sense. Expect day-to-day monitoring but, as things stand, no alarm bells.

Karl Darlow

Darlow is still on the comeback trail after a minor procedure at the end of last season. Confidence is high he’ll be available for the new campaign. He’s with the squad in Ireland and could see some involvement this week, though he’s unlikely to start the season as first choice between the sticks.

The pundit’s verdict

This tour is about rhythm, not heroics. United have managed pre-season sensibly so far, and the sight of Martinez smiling in training is a timely boost. De Ligt and Ugarte remain longer plays; Sesko and Mainoo are edging closer; Mount looks precautionary; Darlow’s tune-up continues. Keep your powder dry, get minutes into legs, and make sure the treatment room isn’t the busiest part of Carrington come opening day.

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