Manchester United have been dealt a last-minute blow ahead of their Monday night Premier League fixture against Everton, as star defender Lisandro Martínez has been ruled out with calf discomfort.

The 28-year-old Argentine international was absent from the travelling squad, with medical tests confirming the issue is minor and not expected to sideline him for long. According to reports from The Athletic, Martínez is anticipated to return to first-team training later this week, potentially missing just one to two matches at most.

This news comes as a frustrating setback for the “Butcher” – the nickname earned for his no-nonsense, aggressive style at the heart of United’s defence. Martínez had only recently fought his way back from a serious nine-month absence following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to his left knee, which he suffered in February 2025. He made his long-awaited comeback in November and had quickly re-established himself as a key figure under caretaker manager Michael Carrick.

In fact, the defender had started every single one of Carrick’s five games in charge, forming a rock-solid central defensive partnership alongside Harry Maguire. That duo helped United keep two clean sheets and secure impressive victories over Manchester City (January 17), Arsenal (January 25), and Tottenham Hotspur (February 7). Carrick himself singled out Martínez for praise after the Arsenal win, saying the emotion and excitement he wants from his players had been “epitomised” by the Argentine’s performances in recent weeks.

Martínez played the full 90 minutes in United’s most recent outing – a 1-1 draw against West Ham on February 10 – and had featured in nine consecutive Premier League starts prior to this latest issue, looking every bit the elite-level performer fans had missed during his long recovery.