Manchester United’s Lisandro Martínez ruled out for rest of season

Manchester United have suffered a sizable blow to their bid for Champions League qualification, the Europa League and FA Cup after injuries ruled Lisandro Martínez out until next season and Raphaël Varane for a number of weeks.

Erik ten Hag’s first-choice centre-backs suffered their respective problems in Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg draw with Sevilla. Varane, whose injury has not been specified, was withdrawn at half-time at Old Trafford, while Martínez was stretchered off near the end with a fractured metatarsal.

A club statement said: “Lisandro Martínez has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his foot. However, the Argentinian defender is expected to make a full recovery in time to be ready for the start of next season.

“Lisandro’s defensive partner Raphaël Varane was substituted with an injury at half-time in the same game and is expected to be out for a few weeks. Everyone at Manchester United sends Lisandro and Rapha our best wishes for a speedy recovery.”

United, who travel to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday, are in fourth place with nine matches remaining, three points ahead of fifth-place Tottenham. On Thursday they are at Sevilla for the return leg, before a FA Cup semi-final versus Brighton three days later.

United have a maximum of 15 games left if they reach the Europa League and FA Cup finals. Ten Hag’s options in the absence of Martínez and Varane are Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelöf and Luke Shaw, with Casemiro also having operated in central defence this season for the manager.