Manchester United face Tottenham on Saturday and Erik ten Hag has been boosted by defender Lisandro Martinez travelling to London ahead of the Premier League clash
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Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez will be fit to face Tottenham after Erik ten Hag confirmed the news before his 20-man squad travelled to London.
Argentina international Martinez was substituted at half-time during Monday’s unconvincing 1-0 victory over Wolves, having been shown a yellow card early on. Fans assumed that Ten Hag’s decision to sub him was because of the booking, but it later emerged that the 25-year-old had picked up an ankle injury.
Fortunately for the Red Devils, Martinez has made a speedy recovery, with the issue only proving to be minor. That means United manager Ten Hag will have him available for Saturday night’s clash with Spurs alongside 19 other players who were spotted at Stockport train station on Friday afternoon.
During his pre-match press conference beforehand, the Red Devils boss was asked if Martinez would be available and replied: “He was just training, so I think so, yeah.”
Four of Martinez’s team-mates are still out through injury, namely goalkeeper Tom Heaton, midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, winger Amad and striker Rasmus Hojlund. The latter is yet to make his first appearance for United after signing for £72million earlier this month.
For Tottenham, newly-appointed manager Ange Postecoglou says that centre-back Cristian Romero is available for selection, having been substituted after only 14 minutes in Sunday’s 2-2 draw away to Brentford due to a head injury. “Cristian is good to go,” Postecoglou confirmed.
Have your say! How should Man Utd line up against Tottenham? Join the debate with your XI in thecomments section.
Lisandro Martinez has travelled to London (
Image:
Eamonn and James Clarke)
Erik ten Hag will be pleased (
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Eamonn and James Clarke)
“Obviously, he’s been in the hands of the medical team going through all the protocols. He’s ticked all the boxes and felt fine all week. Aside from that, no change from last week.” Spurs will still be without missing trio Ryan Sessegnon, Rodrigo Bentancur and Bryan Gil. However, French midfielder Tanguy Ndombele could be available.
Back to United and whoever is selected will have the task of banishing the Red Devils’ miserable record away from home against the other teams in the ‘Big Six’ last season, as they failed to win a single game. “This is one of the aims we have,” Ten Hag declared.
“That we have to step up in away games to get more points, to bring higher levels, because that is the foundation for, of course, for more points.
Mason Mount made his debut against Wolves (
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Eamonn and James Clarke)
Marcus Rashford is hoping to perform better (
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Eamonn and James Clarke)
“So, it’s often to do with personality. So yeah, that’s the demand from me on the players and that we have to show more personality on the pitch to win such games. And so to get more points in away games.”
Confirmed Man Utd squad members to face Tottenham: Onana, Henderson, Vitek, Dalot, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelof, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, McTominay, Mount, Eriksen, Fernandes, Pellistri, Antony, Rashford, Garnacho, Sancho, Martial.
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