Lisandro Martinez has potentially given Manchester United fans a slightly late Christmas present by revealing that his return to the team will be coming 'very soon'.

The World Cup winner played a crucial role in the Red Devils' resurgence last season in his first campaign at the club at the heart of the defence. 

He partnered Raphael Varane for the vast majority of the season, which ended in a first trophy at Old Trafford in six years as they beat Newcastle to the Carabao Cup. 

However, after suffering a metatarsal injury in April he faced a lengthy spell on the sidelines over the summer, before aggravating the injury on his return in September, having played only five league games in 2023-24. 

Yet now the Argentinian star known by United fans as 'Licha' has told the club that he could be back out on the field in the very near future. 

'Well, I am really good, I am really good, honestly,' he began in an interview with the club. 

'My rehab is going amazingly, in the way that I want, I am feeling strong, doing everything right with Ibra [Ibrahim Kerem] the physio, he has been amazing.

'And also the medical department, they take care of me from day one so it was really important. Yeah, all is perfect for me.'

He then added: 'Definitely, we need to be patient, we need to be patient. I know that I will be back soon, very soon. It takes time, we need to be patient.' 

So far, including his first injury, the recurring foot problem has cost both the player and the club a total of 33 games across all competitions. 

With the Red Devils struggling at the back this term, his presence has been sorely missed, with the likes of Varane struggling for form, Jonny Evans now 35 and Harry Maguire also sidelined after an impressive return to form. 

Martinez had been photographed out on the training field with Kerem in recent weeks, although he was quick to point out that it was not solely a physical battle to get match ready. 

'It is tough, so tough, especially when you had two injuries, almost six or seven months, it is really, really tough. But I feel strong from my mind. I get really good values from my family, to never give up, so this has only made me even stronger. It is tough, so tough, but there are no excuses.

'It is part of football also and we need to accept it, be humble. It is a time to work even harder, in the gym, improving, doing analysis, doing tactics, in the things that we can improve on the pitch.

'As a person as well, I love to improve that part because, for everybody, if you improve then automatically you will see it on the pitch.

'I love this club and I love this place. I feel so grateful to be here every day and I love to spend time with physios, the kit men, with my team-mates, with everybody.

This term - in which Martinez has hardly featured - the Red Devils have shipped 43 goals in just 27 games in all competitions. 

Through a combination of poor form and injuries, Ten Hag has been forced into rotating his central defensive partnerships 10 times over the course of 2023-24.