Manchester United manager speaks on Casemiro, Martinez return to action

By Peter Ochieng

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has addressed the possible return to action of his two key players.

Brazilian midfielder Casemiro and Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez nicknamed the butcher, have been out of action for long stretches due to long term injuries, but per their manager, their return to action may no longer be far away.

The two started light training few days ago. 

"They are a long time already back on the grass and now they return back into team training but not fully, so partial. Now they have to make the next steps and that may take some days, I think even weeks," said the Dutch tactician.

Casemiro has missed two months due to a hamstring issue, while Martinez has not played since September due to a recurrence of a foot ailment that was first sustained in April, 2023.

During their absence, the Red Devils have crashed out of the champions league, league cup and dropped out of the premier league titles race.

Concerning striker Rasmus Hojlund, Ten Hag said he will be eligible for the Red Devils' matchup with Wigan Athletic, in the third round of the FA cup tonight.

"He will return. He dropped out shortly before the game against Forest, and so he was a little bit unwell before the game. The day before we expected him to play and then he dropped out shortly before the game but he is back in training."

The Manchester United versus championship side Wigan match will kickoff at 23:15pm tonight.

If United win, they will join the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Leicester City, Sheffield Wednesday, Swansea City and Blackburn Rovers in the next round.

In case they crash out, Ten Hag's side will be in the company of Arsenal, Bryton and Sunderland among others who are already out of the oldest competition in the world.