Lisandro Martinez determined to be fit for FA Cup final after season of injury
Good news is hard to find in the aftermath of United's humiliating 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, but at least fans can look forward to the return of Lisandro Martinez.
Confidential understands that Martinez has set his sights on being fit for the FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley on May 25 and hopes to get some minutes under his belt in the remaining three Premier League games – possibly as soon as Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The combative Argentina defender was a star of Erik ten Hag's first season in charge and has been hugely missed in his second campaign.
Martinez has made just 11 appearances after needing a second operation on a broken metatarsal and then sustained knee ligament damage against West Ham in February just four games into his comeback.
The former Ajax player's absence has been even more keenly felt because Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans and Willy Kambwala have been sidelined as well.
Evans made his return at Palace alongside emergency centre-back Casemiro but it didn't go well as United suffered their heaviest defeat of the season.
Brailsford ready to take a step back
Sir Dave Brailsford has been at the forefront of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Old Trafford revolution since the Ineos billionaire invested in United, but Confidential understands that the former Great Britain cycling supremo is preparing to take a more withdrawn role.
Brailsford became Ratcliffe's eyes and ears around the club after the £1.3billion deal was announced at Christmas, liaising with manager Erik ten Hag, coaches and staff around the training ground as he looked at ways Ineos could improve the whole operation.
He has held a number of one-on-one meetings with the players who have been
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