Lisandro Martínez’s latest setback has put Manchester United in another holding pattern, with the defender’s condition still uncertain after he was withdrawn at half-time in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road.

The Argentina international started the game but did not come out for the second half, as United adjusted their shape after the interval. Ayden Heaven was already unavailable because of illness, and the team appeared to move to a back three when Martínez was replaced by returning fullback Noussair Mazraoui.

After the match, Michael Carrick said Martínez had “felt his thigh a little bit.” That brief assessment suggested caution rather than alarm, with no immediate indication that the issue was severe. Carrick also offered no further details, leaving the club to wait for a fuller update when he next speaks to reporters on Tuesday.

The timing matters, with United due to face Como in the Champions League on Wednesday. At this stage, it seems difficult to imagine Martínez being pushed into that match so soon after coming off against Leeds. If the problem is minor and carefully managed, he could be back in contention relatively quickly. The more realistic short-term target may be Bournemouth, when the Premier League schedule resumes on Sunday.

Martínez’s injury record since arriving from Ajax in the summer of 2022 remains a significant concern. Across his first four years at the club, he made 110 appearances in all competitions, averaging fewer than 28 a season. Transfermarkt estimates that he has spent a total of 632 days sidelined in that period.

For now, United are waiting for the next update, with the hope that this is another brief interruption rather than something more serious.

Manchester United left Elland Road with a point after a hard-fought meeting with Leeds United on Sunday, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin replied to Bryan Mbuemo’s opener. It was a contest shaped more by discipline and physicality than fluency, with both sides finding chances scarce once the game settled into a narrow rhythm.

Leeds came into the match having lost for the first time this season at Arsenal last weekend, but they pushed United all the way in a contest that demanded resilience. The visitors made a strong first-half case for the lead, with their best moments coming in spells that suggested a side capable of controlling the game if not quite putting it away.

That changed when Leeds gathered momentum after the break. Calvert-Lewin equalised from a messy corner sequence, reinforcing the sense that he remains a major threat at Elland Road. Even with time left to play, neither team appeared especially inclined to force the issue, and the point eventually felt like an acceptable outcome for both.

For United, the encouraging note was the influence of Bryan Mbeumo when used centrally. He had already missed a header from a fine Youri Tielemans delivery before making amends by finishing smartly from another Tielemans cross, opening up his foot to guide the ball beyond James Trafford and into the corner. It was not a flawless display from the scorer, who was slow to react in the sequence leading to Leeds’ goal, but his finish ensured United did not leave empty-handed.

There was plenty to like about the collective effort, particularly in a demanding away setting. Bruno Fernandes, though, cut a frustrated figure for much of the afternoon and was booked in the opening period for a late challenge. The captain has an excellent record in this fixture, but this was a difficult day for him.

United will take the draw and the evidence of a side that competed well enough to earn it, even after surrendering a lead.

Lisandro Martínez did not hold back after Manchester United’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid, directing pointed criticism at the club’s summer transfer work and, in particular, director of football Jason Wilcox.

Speaking to Amazon Prime Sport after the match, the centre back said: “Really poor,” Martínez told Amazon Prime Sport after the match. “Really poor. I have to control myself a lot but sometimes is a reflection of the mirror of how is our club at the moment. We did a fantastic season last season and now we expect more from the top, more players to compete because many teams bring many players as well. Atletico have an amazing team and they deserve to win today.”

When pressed on whether he had expected greater investment, Martínez was equally direct. “[I expected more] yeah, 100%,” the Argentine confessed. “I expect more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox]. I have to be honest, as players we have to do more but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night.”

He added that United had laid foundations last season, but had not built on them enough. “Last season we did everything, we created the base to create an amazing team. It is annoying, disappointing coming here and I am not seeing my team trying to get an amazing result here.”

Martínez also made clear he did not see the manager as the main problem. “I don’t think so,” Martínez said when asked about Carrick. “He does his best. Every season is different. You can’t stay with what you did last season. The teams knows how you play, they know every detail, if you don’t change next season is a big problem.

“You can’t keep changing, changing, changing the manager. What about other areas? I can’t say more.” But he did say more. “Tonight it is easy to say the coach, easy to say the players but also we have to see other areas,” Martínez said pointing up, seemingly referencing United’s higher-ups.

Carrick, speaking afterwards, said he had not seen Martínez’s remarks before responding. “I think after a game like this you come here to trying and get something out of the game and we’re disappointed,” Carrick said. “Sometimes you can be a little bit emotional as well. I have not seen it so I don’t think now is the right time for me to comment on it.

Carrick added: “I fully know we all care and we show that in different ways. But now is certainly the time to be together and work through it. We got a big a big game now Sunday and we’ve got to prepare for that properly.”

United’s summer work focused heavily on midfield, with Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba and Youri Tielemans arriving for $207.2 million (£155 million). Karl Darlow was the other senior addition, while Marcus Rashford returned after 18 months on loan.

The midfield trio all started together against Atléti for the first time and showed some improvement in that area of the pitch. Even so, the broader squad issues remain. United were linked with a left back all summer, including Lewis Hall, but brought in no defender, while Luke Shaw has already missed time through injury and Ayden Heaven filled in on the left against Atléti.

There were similar shortcomings in attack. United were closer to letting Joshua Zirkzee leave than adding another centre forward option, even though Šeško is now injured and Zirkzee has not started a game all season. With Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha better suited to playing as second strikers, the lack of depth is becoming harder to ignore now that Champions League football and domestic cups have been added to the schedule.