Lisandro Martinez ruled out for the rest of the season with 'metatarsal break'

Manchester United have been dealt a devastating blow with Lisandro Martinez ruled out for the season and his centre half partner Raphael Varane facing at least three weeks out.

In a colossal blow to United’s top four ambitions and hopes of adding more silverware to the Carabao Cup already won, manager Erik ten Hag must navigate most of the run-in without both of his first choice centre backs.

Martinez fractured a fifth metatarsal in his right foot during Thursday’s 2-2 Europa League draw against Sevilla at Old Trafford and will not play again this season. United said they expected the Argentina defender to have made a full recovery in time for the start of next season.

Martinez’s absence has been compounded by the loss of Varane, who was also substituted in the same game. The France defender is expecting to be missing for at least three weeks although sources said they hoped he would be back for the final couple of weeks of the Premier League season.

United’s season could last another seven weeks should they reach the finals of the Europa League on May 31 and the FA Cup three days later.

Martinez and Varane have been central to United’s resurgence under Ten Hag this season and their absence deals an enormous blow to their hopes of a strong finish to the season.

The Argentina centre-half was substituted in the second half of United’s 2-2 Europa League draw against Sevilla after he went to ground unopposed clutching his right foot.

Martinez was carried off the pitch by the Sevilla players and his fellow Argentines, Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel, in visible discomfort and was later seen leaving Old Trafford on crutches.

Although initial fears Martinez may have suffered a ruptured Achilles and a much longer recovery were dismissed by Erik ten Hag, the news he will not play again this season is a crushing blow.

Varane was taken off at half time against Sevilla after aggravating an injury that has been bothering him for the past couple of weeks. The loss of the pair now places a huge onus on Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, both of whom have had very limited playing time this season.

United resume their bid for a top four finish when they play Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday, when top scorer Marcus Rashford will also be missing along with winger Alejandro Garnacho.

Rashford is sidelined with a groin problem, although Ten Hag said there was a chance the England striker could return for the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla next Thursday, when Bruno Fernandes will be suspended.

Ten Hag has not ruled out Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay returning for Forest.

Shaw was hoping to be back for Sunday but there is a possibility the game may come too soon and the best he can hope for is a place on the bench.

United said: “Lisandro Martinez has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his foot.

“However, the Argentinian defender is expected to make a full recovery in time to be ready for the start of next season.

“Lisandro’s defensive partner Raphael Varane was also substituted with an injury at half-time in the same game and is expected to be out for a few weeks.”