Manchester United injury update: Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro and Kobbie Mainoo latest news and return dates

Manchester United are contending with a number of injury problems as Ruben Amorim prepares for his first match in charge of the club.

A new era for the Red Devils officially begins with the Premier League’s return next weekend following the final international break of 2024, with Amorim taking the managerial reins for the first time in Sunday’s trip to face struggling Ipswich at Portman Road having left Sporting Lisbon to become the sacked Erik ten Hag’s successor on an initial two-and-a-half year contract.

While many things are likely to change quickly for United under the highly-rated Portuguese coach, what does not yet appear to have been solved is the club’s lengthy injury list that may leave him notably short on defensive options for the start of a hectic fixture list across all competitions that includes matches against the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City in addition to a Carabao Cup quarter-final showdown with Tottenham.

As Amorim’s first game fast approaches, here is all the latest Manchester United injury news and prospective return dates.

Lisandro Martinez

Lisandro Martinez played the full 90 minutes for United in their final game under the temporary stewardship of caretaker Ruud van Nistelrooy, though did suffer a knock in the 3-0 win over Leicester before the international break.

He subsequently reported for duty with Argentina ahead of their latest World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru, though was sent home early due to what was described as a back problem.

“We didn’t expect the case of Lisandro,” said Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni.

“We saw that he had suffered a blow to his back, but apparently, he had no problem, just pain. When he arrived here, the pain increased a bit, he underwent tests and is not fit to be here.”

Martinez will have been assessed upon his return to Manchester and an update will be expected when Amorim faces the media for the first time later this week ahead of the trip to Ipswich.

Potential return date: Unknown

Leny Yoro

Amorim should receive a swift boost at United with the highly-anticipated return of Leny Yoro, who has yet to play a competitive game for the club after sustaining a fractured foot against Arsenal on their pre-season tour of the United States.

The £52million summer signing from Lille underwent surgery and was expected to be sidelined for approximately three months, working hard on his comeback since and gradually increasing his workload before returning to training at Carrington earlier in November.

“He’s been managed very well after his injury in pre-season,” said former interim boss Van Nistelrooy on November 6.

“Obviously, it was going to be a long one and it’s a big moment for him, that first time he’s back in team training.

“We’re going to get him back partially over the coming weeks and look to get him on board as quickly as possible.”

Provided he suffers no setbacks this week, it seems possible that Yoro could be part of the squad for Amorim’s first game against Ipswich.

Potential return date: Sunday November 24, vs Ipswich

Kobbie Mainoo

Kobbie Mainoo has not played for United since the goalless draw at Aston Villa in early October after suffering a muscle injury.

The England midfielder was expected to miss “a few weeks” of action, with Van Nistelrooy revealing before the win over Leicester that he was making progress but had not yet returned to team training.

“Kobbie is also progressing in his injury, he’s making the right steps, but is not yet with the team, though. That needs a bit more time,” the Dutchman said of Mainoo.

A return against Ipswich looks unlikely for Mainoo if he has yet to resume group training, so maybe the Europa League visit of Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt to Old Trafford on November 28 for Amorim’s first home match may be a more realistic goal as things stand.

After that, United face back-to-back Premier League matches in quick succession against Everton and Arsenal to kick off a busy December.

Potential return date: Thursday November 28, vs Bodo/Glimt

Luke Shaw

Luke Shaw last played for United back in February, having recovered from a long-running hamstring injury to feature for England at Euro 2024 before then sustaining a calf issue early on in pre-season training.

His attempts to return have been difficult, with multiple delays and expected returns after both the September and October international breaks not coming to fruition.

Ten Hag confirmed shortly before his sacking last month that Shaw had suffered a setback as he expressed the need to be “very careful” with his return, while Van Nistelrooy said earlier in November that the left-back was now doing pitch work at Carrington with the hope of returning to partial team training soon.

It looks like Amorim is likely to have to wait a little while before he has Shaw fit and available to him.

Potential return date: December

Harry Maguire

Like Mainoo, England team-mate Harry Maguire was also injured during that goalless draw at Villa Park in early October that handed the under-fire Ten Hag a brief period of respite.

He had to be helped off the pitch at half-time and subsequently confirmed a calf problem that he expected to keep him out for a “few weeks.”

Van Nistelrooy said before the win over Leicester that Maguire was still working on his rehabilitation indoors, suggesting his return to action remains a while away yet.

Potential return date: December

Victor Lindelof

Victor Lindelof has joined fellow defenders Martinez, Maguire and Shaw in the treatment room after limping off in the first half of Sweden’s Nations League win over Slovakia in Stockholm on Saturday.

The severity of what was reported as a hamstring injury has yet to be determined, with Lindelof likely to be assessed by United medics in the coming days.

Potential return date: Unknown

Tyrell Malacia

You have to go all the way back to the final day of the 2022/23 Premier League season for Tyrell Malacia’s last senior appearance in a United shirt, with 18 months of injury hell seeing him need two separate operations on a troublesome knee problem.

However, the versatile Dutch defender is now finally closing in on a return to first-team football having completed 45 minutes for the Under-21s in their defeat by Huddersfield in the EFL Trophy last week.

Like Yoro, Malacia could finally make his return to the United squad for Amorim’s first game in charge at Portman Road at the weekend.

Potential return date: Sunday October 24, vs Ipswich