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"Licha is really important for us, not just as a player, but as a character," Ruben Amorim said after Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez picked up an ACL injury against Crystal Palace in February. The injury was a body blow for a player who has had a number of injury problems since arriving at United . Martinez proved pundits wrong following his move to Old Trafford but there is a fear his injury issues could prevent him from becoming a regular in the starting XI for years to come. After nine months away, Martinez is close to a return. United confirmed before Amorim's press conference on Thursday that the Argentine had rejoined his teammates in training . While he did want to travel to Nottingham Forest, Amorim has insisted that Martinez will not be in the squad. However, should he be in a position to travel to Tottenham Hotspur next week, it would be a huge boost for the Reds. Martinez is now a member of the leadership group at United. While he has still been around his teammates during his time on the sidelines, his absence on the pitch means he will not have been as influential in the months he's been out as he would have liked to have been. His impending return means Amorim will soon have his full leadership group fit and available. Harry Maguire, who is also part of the leadership group, is a doubt for the trip to the City Ground but his injury is not thought to be a long-term issue. Whether Martinez comes straight back into the starting line-up once fully fit is another question. Luke Shaw has played well and is the man to beat for a place in the squad. But just having Martinez back in the squad will be a huge boost for Amorim. His personality and hunger to win will bring a fresh wave of positivity into a squad that is already on a high thanks to their current run of form. United will soon have their entire leadership group available for selection for the first time this season. --- Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis. Make sure you don't miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories. And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts , and you can also watch along on YouTube .
