Manchester United is missing one injured player more than the rest

Manchester United is currently lacking the bite to go with their bark. Lisandro Martinez, the man who provides them both, is the injured player Erik ten Hag would most like to see return.

United’s sloppy loss to Newcastle on Saturday night brought up some old concerns. Not only were they defeated by top-four opponents, but ‘attitude’ was once again scrutinized.

United had been on an encouraging domestic run that had thrust them right back into the Champions League-chasing picture before their re-routed journey to St. James’ Park, which began with a cancelled outwards flight and ended with a winner from Anthony Gordon.

Whether or not those results covered up the cracks depends on your point of view, but the performance in the Everton win was solid, if not spectacular, and United demonstrated their mettle in two difficult environments there and during the European trip to Istanbul that followed.

Without two glaring errors from Andre Onana, United would have won and been one step closer to the Champions League knockout stages. You could argue that those mistakes had little to do with the collective flaws that resurfaced in the north east.

United finished second in all departments to Eddie Howe’s well-oiled machine. In most cases, there may be salvageable pride in losing to the superior team on any given occasion, but only if the players have shown up and given it their all.

There is no doubt that United attempted to do so. Yet, for the second time this season, their underwhelming performance lacked the heart and guts that Martinez, for example, would have provided.

While it would be unfair to label Martinez as an old-school footballer, the former Ajax star is a cultured footballer who understands what it means to fly the flag in both Amsterdam and Manchester.

Unfortunately, United have no like-for-like replacement in their squad, and Martinez only played six games before an ongoing injury setback hampered their domestic and international ambitions. Ten Hag’s decision to move Luke Shaw to center-back against Newcastle in an attempt to recapture a similar identity said it all.

Martinez was not United’s only bright spot last season, but his combative nature, impressive passing range, and high footballing IQ made United something that even the top Premier League sides coveted. Ten Hag likes the balance provided by his left foot, which is a feature that is popular throughout the Premier League.

Shaw, an England regular, ticks most of those boxes, but in helping to fill one void, his absence at left-back has created and will create another. Their significance to the United and Ten Hag systems cannot be overstated. The player he and United desperately need back on the field is undeniable.