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has put Manchester United in another holding pattern, with the defender’s condition still uncertain after he was withdrawn at half-time in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road.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

Michael Carrick is under increasing pressure, and the speculation around Manchester United continues to point towards alternative options. One of the more intriguing possibilities is Antonio Conte, a manager whose ideas would quickly reshape the team.

If United did move for Conte, the side would almost certainly look very different. In goal, Senne Lammens would keep his place. Conte usually likes experience in that area, but Lammens’s straightforward style would still appeal. At centre-back, Matthijs de Ligt could be handed another chance, especially after previous suggestions that Conte wanted him during his Tottenham Hotspur spell. Alongside him, Harry Maguire would suit a return to a back three, while Alessandro Bastoni would represent the ambitious option if United follow through on the need for a new central defender.

The wingback roles would be transformed. On the right, Michael Kayode fits the sort of all-action profile Conte typically values, while Lewis Hall would be a natural choice on the left because of his running power and influence in the final third. In midfield, Carlos Baleba would have to adjust to the demands of a two-man unit, and Scott McTominay is the sort of player Conte has already turned into a major asset, making a return to Old Trafford feel like an obvious storyline.

Further forward, Bryan Mbeumo remains one of the most dependable figures in the current setup, so a place on the right side of the attack looks secure. Bruno Fernandes still has no obvious role in this projected shape, which underlines how much would change under Conte.

As for the wider picture, United are expected to pursue a new centre-back, with a replacement for the disgruntled Lisandro Martínez appearing likely. A Conte appointment would not just alter the team sheet. It would demand a wholesale rethink of the squad structure.

Marcus Rashford’s return to Manchester United was always going to be judged in difficult circumstances, but the early evidence of his second spell has been muted. Multiple reports have pointed to a secret injury as a key reason the winger has struggled to find rhythm.

There was no grand unveiling when the academy graduate came back to his boyhood club. By the time he made his low-key second debut at Old Trafford against Ipswich Town, the backdrop was already shaped by his failed attempt to complete the permanent move to Barcelona he had openly wanted.

Since then, the numbers have not helped his case. Rashford is still without a goal or assist for United this season, and that victory over Ipswich remains the only match he has featured in and won. Michael Carrick did not use him at all in United’s search for a winner at Elland Road on Sunday.

The wider picture is important, though. Rashford has been dealing with a hip injury since the World Cup, according to Sky News, and continues to receive daily treatment. The problem forced him to withdraw from the autumn internationals, and since those fixtures he has managed only a single minute of Premier League football.

“He had the slight injury where he had to pull out of England, and we’ve managed that a little bit,” Carrick said.

For a player whose game depends so heavily on pace and power, even a minor physical setback can have an effect that extends beyond the body. Rashford’s direct style remains one of his strongest qualities, but his output has suffered, and his underlying numbers in front of goal are down on his prolific season at Barcelona.

Even so, the issue is not his alone. United’s attack has also lacked consistency around him. Bryan Mbeumo is the only player to score in more than one Premier League match so far, while Amad Diallo is still waiting for his first meaningful impact. Benjamin Šeško has been hindered by injury, Matheus Cunha has dropped to the bench, and Bruno Fernandes has not produced at the level United need from him.

Rashford has taken 17 shots in all competitions with an xG of 1.92, a return that would usually have brought goals. Only three Premier League players have had more attempts without scoring. Carrick still sees enough to remain patient.

“Marcus has done a lot of good things,” Carrick said. “He’s doing some good things, and it’s not quite getting that break, putting himself in good positions and having some good opportunities,” Carrick insisted. “He had the one the other night where maybe he’d feel he could have done better with. He’s in there to make a difference.

“If you keep doing the right things, you get the rewards in the end. As long as he keeps doing that, he’ll be O.K.”