After entering the top 3, MU receives extremely positive news from Carrick

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick delivered encouraging news regarding Lisandro Martinez's injury condition, suggesting the Argentine center-back will not be sidelined for an extended period.

Since Carrick took over, Martinez has been a stable defensive pillar, starting five consecutive matches in an unchanged back four. Since the start of the season, MU has lost only 2 of the 15 matches he has played in and suffered just one defeat when he started.

The absence of the defender nicknamed "The Butcher" was noticeable during the away trip to Hill Dickinson Stadium, although MU still secured a 1-0 victory to move ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League standings. Leny Yoro replaced him, partnering with Harry Maguire and helping the team achieve a rare clean sheet away from home. However, Old Trafford supporters are eagerly awaiting Martinez's return to the heart of the defense.

Carrick stated that withdrawing Martinez from the match against Everton was merely a precautionary measure following a late issue in training. He expressed considerable optimism regarding the severity of the injury. Speaking ahead of the Crystal Palace match on MUTV, Carrick said: “Licha is closer to returning than Patrick [Dorgu]. Hopefully it's just a matter of days, not too long. We will assess him in the next day or two to see how things stand.”

Although the news on Martinez is quite positive, MU is still dealing with a lengthy injury list. Carrick added: “Mason [Mount] is progressing well, Matthijs [de Ligt] is a bit behind Mason, but if we can get the players back, we will do so as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, Patrick Dorgu, who has been absent since his impressive goal against Arsenal in January, is considered the case requiring the most time. “Patrick will need a few more weeks, but he is recovering well,” Carrick concluded.

After facing Crystal Palace at Old Trafford, MU will travel to St James' Park to play Newcastle. The team hopes the 11-day break in mid-March will allow several key players to fully recover, aiming for the final stretch of the season. For now, Carrick and his squad are focused on overcoming the challenge named Palace, while awaiting Martinez to complete his recovery process within the next 48 hours.