Manchester United have taken a knock in their quest for a top four finish in the Premier League thanks to multiple injuries in defense. Both center-backs who started the club’s Europa League clash against Sevilla went off through injury. The Red Devils ended up drawing the match against the Spaniards after having a commanding 2-0 lead.

Nevertheless, injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane will certainly be more worrisome than that particular scoreline. Varane suffered his injury in the first-half of Thursday’s game. Varane managed to remain on the pitch for a few minutes, but was then withdrawn at half-time. Martinez went down awkwardly in the later stages of the eventual draw.

Lisandro Martinez out for the season with foot injury

The club confirmed the severity of the two setbacks on Friday. Martinez will now miss the remainder of the current campaign. Conversely, Varane will miss a few weeks out of action.

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

The duo is the club’s most utilized central defense pairing under manager Erik ten Hag. Martinez has managed 24 Premier League starts and Varane has 19. Both players also starred for Argentina and France respectively at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Harry Maguire must fill defensive gap for Manchester United

Harry Maguire will now almost certainly have to step up in the heart of the defense. Despite his presence for Gareth Southgate’s England team, the center-back has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford.

Sevilla’s equalizing goal was actually an own goal by Maguire. However, the Red Devils have won their last 10 matches in all competitions in which the Englishman played a full 90 minutes.

United will travel to face Nottingham Forest on Sunday. They entered the weekend in fourth place of the Premier League table, albeit buoyed as both Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur lost on Saturday.

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