Manchester United are facing an anxious wait over Lisandro Martinez after the defender was forced off injured during Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain.
The centre-back was unable to complete the first half in New Jersey, raising fresh concerns over his fitness just weeks before the Premier League season gets underway.
Martinez forced off before half-time
Martinez suffered the injury late in the opening half after appearing to experience discomfort in his right thigh.
The Argentina international had earlier been booked for bringing down Mikel Oyarzabal during a Spanish counter-attack, but continued playing before eventually signalling that he could not carry on.
He was substituted shortly before the interval as Argentina's medical staff assessed the problem.
The severity of the injury has yet to be confirmed.
Fresh concern for Manchester United
The setback is an unwelcome development for Manchester United, who have relied heavily on Martinez whenever he has been available.
The 28-year-old has endured several injury interruptions since arriving at Old Trafford, making any new fitness concern particularly worrying ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
Having established himself as one of the leaders of United's defence, a lengthy absence would leave a significant gap in the squad during a crucial stage of pre-season.
What's next?
Manchester United's medical staff are expected to assess Martinez when he returns from international duty before determining the extent of the injury.
With the new Premier League season fast approaching, Erik ten Hag will be hoping the Argentine's withdrawal was only precautionary rather than the start of another lengthy spell on the sidelines.
How important is Lisandro Martinez to Manchester United's chances of competing for major honours this season?
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