Manchester United have adjusted their approach to Lisandro Martínez’s recovery after a training setback, The Daily Mail reports. The latest problem has sent Martínez back to the sidelines and is expected to extend his absence. While the issue is not believed to be serious, the defender’s time out has grown from less than a week to more than one month.

The club has reevaluated treatment and return-to-play plans to avoid a repeat of the prolonged absence suffered by Matthijs de Ligt. De Ligt was struck down by a back problem in November and, although initially expected back the following month, he has now missed 18 consecutive games. Sunday’s meeting with Aston Villa will be the 18th consecutive game he has missed as his spell on the sidelines tips over four months.

At this stage of the season, United cannot afford further long-term losses among their central defenders, particularly after defeat to Newcastle United tightened the race for Champions League qualification.

United’s fixture list in the coming weeks underlines the challenge: Aston Villa (H) on March 15, Bournemouth (A) on March 20, Leeds (H) on April 13, Chelsea (A) on April 18 and Brentford (H) on April 27.

Tactically, the shift away from Ruben Amorim’s three-at-the-back approach has given some relief to the centre-back group because Carrick’s 4-2-3-1 formation fields two centre backs at a time. Without both De Ligt and Martínez, squad options are stretched. Harry Maguire has been partnered with 20-year-old Leny Yoro, while depth beyond them is limited.

Nineteen-year-old Ayden Heaven has been the primary deputy. The former Arsenal youngster has had moments in the first team, but examples of inexperience emerged towards the end of Amorim’s reign. Heaven has made three appearances under Carrick, totaling eight minutes of action since the change in management.

Manchester United midfielder Jack Fletcher has been suspended for six matches after using a discriminatory term during an appearance for the club’s U21s in October 2025.

At the hearing on Feb. 3, which was a paper hearing not attended by any party, Fletcher accepted that he used the term “gay boy” towards an opponent but contested that it was a homophobic slur. He argued it was uttered in response to two earlier off-ball fouls that had been reported to the referee and to subsequent comments about his father and twin brother. The exact words recorded in the published FA verdict were: “You seem to know a lot about me, are you a gay boy?” The presiding commission accepted the context put forward by Fletcher “for the purposes of assessing the appropriate sanction.”

The breach carried an automatic suspension of six to 12 matches; the FA issued the minimum six-match ban. The relative leniency reflected his acceptance of the charge, the context he supplied and the “immediate remorse” he expressed in his witness statement and interview. The FA summary noted: “Fletcher stated that he is not homophobic, does not ordinarily use such language, and did not intend the remark to be an intentional homophobic insult.”

Fletcher was also fined $2,005 (£1,500) and ordered to attend a mandatory “face-to-face education programme” that must be completed before June 2. The player said: “I am truly sorry for the offensive word that I used in the heat of the moment,” and added: “Despite the fact that I had no intention to use the term as a homophobic insult, I completely understand that such language is unacceptable and immediately apologised after the game. I want to be clear that this momentary lapse of character absolutely does not reflect my beliefs or values.”

His club issued a statement outlining support and education: “Manchester United has worked with Jack to strengthen his understanding of discriminatory language, and why it is harmful. In addition to his ongoing participation in regular Academy programmes on diversity and inclusion, Jack will also take part in educational training through the FA.

“Manchester United prides itself on being an inclusive and welcoming club. Since launching All Red All Equal in 2016, we have embedded equality, diversity and inclusion into everything we do.”

Fletcher was sent off in the game, an S6 offence for using offensive, insulting or abusive language. He was initially banned for one EFL Trophy match automatically and one further match; the disciplinary hearing added four extra matches described as four non-first team competitive fixtures in approved competitions.

Michael Carrick has raised doubts over the availability of two senior defenders ahead of Manchester United’s Wednesday night Premier League visit to Newcastle United, prompting a potential reshuffle at the back.

“We’re working towards it,” Carrick told reporters on the health of Maguire and Shaw.

“They weren’t feeling too good [against Crystal Palace]. We’ve still got a little bit of time to the game and we will just have to see how they feel. So we’ll obviously give them every chance.

“It wasn’t injury, it’s just both of them weren’t feeling too good. It’s one of those things really. But we’ll just have to see how they are [the rest of Tuesday] and [Wednesday] morning.”

Those comments leave United without three established defensive options. Matthijs de Ligt has been sidelined since November and Patrick Dorgu is not expected back until late March or early April. That means Diogo Dalot is the only usual defensive starter definitely available for the trip. Senne Lammens will continue in goal, but the unit in front of him could look very different.

If Maguire cannot recover, Carrick could turn to a young centre-back pairing. Leny Yoro, who has deputised for Martínez in recent matches, and Ayden Heaven are both prospects aged 20 and 19 respectively, and both are described as raw.

At left-back, the obvious replacement if Luke Shaw is absent is Noussair Mazraoui. The Morocco international can operate on either flank and filled in at left against Crystal Palace. Dalot has been shifted from the right in the past to accommodate Mazraoui. Ruben Amorim was in charge the last time Mazraoui started a game for United. Mazraoui also missed part of the festive period due to the Africa Cup of Nations and is generally considered behind Shaw and Dalot in the fullback pecking order.

Carrick’s injury updates complicate selection for a fixture where defensive cohesion will matter. United head to Newcastle having climbed into the top three after the weekend, leapfrogging Aston Villa thanks to six wins from seven matches since Carrick became interim manager in January. The club spent the majority of 2024–25 in the table’s bottom half and last occupied third in May 2023.