Lima's comeback has been postponed again, with the earliest return now expected in November! Reports suggest Manchester United may sign a replacement if he gets injured again.

Manchester United has lowered their expectations for Lisandro Martinez’s return, hoping only that he can get back on the pitch before the year ends. The 27-year-old Argentine defender has been sidelined for 8 months after undergoing surgery for a knee cruciate ligament injury in February. However, there is still no definite timetable for his comeback. Lima has resumed training but is still far from rejoining full team sessions.

Lima began outdoor training in July, but his return date has been repeatedly delayed. Initially, it was expected after the September international break, then pushed back to after the November international break, specifically the home game against Everton on November 25. The UK’s The Sun reports that Manchester United is taking a cautious approach, anticipating that Lima will only be reintegrated into team training in November, with actual match participation likely requiring even more time.

Ruben Amorim included Lima among the six leaders in the team’s locker room, taking him along for the training camp in the United States. Before the Manchester derby, Lima also traveled with the squad to the Etihad Stadium to support the team. Unfortunately, this didn’t help much as Manchester United suffered a heavy 0-3 defeat.

Currently, Lima remains training alone at Carrington, conducting individual sessions while observing team practices and attending all team meetings. Since joining Manchester United in July 2022 for a £57 million transfer fee, he has faced multiple serious injuries, each sidelining him for months. In April 2023, he suffered a metatarsal fracture; after five months of conservative treatment failed, corrective surgery was necessary, ruling him out of any matches until January next year.

Before that season ended, Lima was struck by injury again — first a calf problem, then the severe knee injury that has kept him out to date. As a result, although Manchester United lacks an experienced left-footed center-back, Amorim had to rely on Luke Shaw as a makeshift option, but the club is unwilling to risk rushing Lima’s return.

Ethan Haven, who joined during the winter transfer window at just 18 years old, has only appeared four times for the team so far, making it unrealistic to expect him to replace Lima. Amorim admitted the team misses Lima and looks forward to his comeback, but injuries to defenders seem to be a recurring issue at Manchester United. Another stand-in center-back, full-back Mazraoui, has also been plagued by injuries this season, with a recent thigh injury sidelining him until the end of this month.

Amorim stated: "Recovery after injury requires time. Initially, you may recover quickly, but then you face difficult moments, sometimes struggling to progress to the next stage. We miss Lima greatly, especially right now. The team lacks his proactive spirit — we truly miss him. He’s always present at training; sometimes after finishing his own session, he stays to watch his teammates practice. Our squad absolutely needs Lima."

The UK’s Daily Mirror reports that if Lima suffers another injury in the future, Manchester United might consider offloading him while also letting go of Maguire, whose contract is nearing expiration, to restructure the center-back lineup. Maguire will turn 33 in March next year, and with less than a year left on his contract, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly reluctant to renew it.

Therefore, Amorim is now preparing long-term plans without Maguire. Maguire will be free to negotiate with overseas clubs starting January next year, and two Saudi Professional League clubs have already expressed interest, including Al Nassr, where Cristiano Ronaldo plays.

If both Lima and Maguire depart, Manchester United may renew efforts to sign Everton center-back Jarrad Branthwaite. For years, United have monitored the young English defender, but his high asking price has prevented a transfer. The 23-year-old Branthwaite is left-footed, fitting Amorim’s requirements for that position.