Ex-Manchester United striker Louis Saha believes that the return of Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez will be “like new signings” for manager Erik ten Hag.
The pair have been sidelined with injuries for a number of months, and, speaking to Paddy Power, Saha said their reintroduction will boost the team more than any incoming transfers in January:
“I hope that the players coming back from injury return in better shape. Players like Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez are going to be like new signings. I’m more excited to see them back, than see any other new players come in.
Martinez has missed most of the season, having had to undergo an operation on a broken metatarsal back in September, while Casemiro has been out of action since October due to a hamstring injury.
Casemiro and Martinez are back in team training
Ten Hag confirmed at the weekend that the two players were training, but they could still be a number of weeks away from making a first-team appearance.
A return after the winter break is the most likely possibility so fans shouldn’t expect either Casemiro or Martinez to be named in the matchday squad for the Tottenham fixture on Sunday.
United have 9 other players on the treatment table
It is believed that Christian Eriksen, Luke Shaw (muscular) and Harry Maguire (groin) will be available for the Spurs game. Eriksen only missed the win over Wigan due to illness so the Dane could well be ready to start this weekend. Shaw and Maguire may only be fit enough for the substitutes bench.
There are doubts over the fitness of Amad Diallo (illness), Antony (knock) and Anthony Martial (illness), while the likes of Victor Lindelof (groin), Masson Mount (calf) and Tyrell Malacia (knee) are still out of contention.
