Lisandro Martinez injury nightmare gives Manchester United new summer transfer target

It's a small sample size but the stats point to Lisandro Martinez's importance to this Manchester United team. With the World Cup winner in the starting XI they are winning 56% of the time. Without him, that drops to 44%.

The bad news for United and Erik ten Hag is that the centre-back has only been fit enough to start nine games this season. The even worse news is that he faces another month on the sidelines with a muscle injury, the third separate issue that has forced him onto the sidelines this season.

United's record with Martinez in the side is even better than those raw numbers attest to. Of the four defeats with him in the starting XI, three were away at Tottenham, Arsenal and Bayern Munich before the end of September. There have been far more disastrous performances this season than those games.

United squad vs Chelsea confirmed as Amad returns and Varane is fit

Ten Hag makes admission about Mount contract offers at Chelsea

Since then the 26-year-old has managed to start just three games, which came in succession in January and February when Newport County, Wolves and West Ham were beaten, with 11 goals scored. Martinez makes a difference to this team at both ends of the pitch.

He is perhaps the most irreplaceable member of the squad, especially when Luke Shaw is also injured, which has been a regular occurrence this season. As a left-footed centre-back comfortable with the ball at his feet, Martinez brings balance to the team.

That quality aids the build-up play, increases the passing options from defence, giving the opposition more possibilities to contend with, and allows United to play out from Andre Onana. When Martinez isn't available, those traits are gone. The build-up play becomes more