Samuel Luckhurst recently provided an update on Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez, who has now linked up with his teammates in the Republic of Ireland.

The Red Devils are set to face Leeds in Dublin on Wednesday before travelling to Poland for their final pre-season game against AC Milan.

United have been travelling all over Europe over the past month, playing in Finland, Norway, and Sweden.

A number of United players have been suffering with injury problems through the summer, stemming from the end of the season and the World Cup.

The list of players with fitness and/or injury problems at United recently is as follows:

• Matthijs de Ligt
• Benjamin Sesko
• Manuel Ugarte
• Lisandro Martinez
• Kobbie Mainoo
• Mason Mount
• Karl Darlow

We’ll be looking to provide the latest injury updates on all the aforementioned players.

Matthijs de Ligt

Matthijs de Ligt has been included at United’s Ireland training camp as he continues his recovery from back surgery.

The Dutch international is believed to be on track with his recovery after surgery three months ago, but he isn’t expected to be fit for the start of the Premier League season.

De Ligt is currently unable to train or play, but he’s still linked up with the United squad due to some team bonding elements planned over the course of the trip.

Benjamin Sesko

Benjamin Sesko has also linked up with the United squad this week, as he continues his recovery from injury.

The United striker is yet to feature for the club during pre-season. He stayed behind at Carrington to continue his recovery while his teammates travelled to Sweden to face Paris Saint-Germain.

It’s unclear whether Sesko will be fit enough to feature for United against Leeds this week, but it’s a positive that he’s with the group.

Manuel Ugarte

Manuel Ugarte is the only United player not with the first-team squad in Ireland at the moment.

The Red Devils confirmed back in July that the Uruguay midfielder has undergone surgery on a knee ligament injury suffered during the World Cup.

United didn’t set a timescale on his potential return, but he’s likely to spend a significant period on the sidelines.

Lisandro Martinez

Lisandro Martinez arrived a day later than his teammates in Ireland, but Samuel Luckhurst has confirmed that it wasn’t injury-related.

Martinez was given an extra day off after he played in the World Cup final just three weeks ago. You’d imagine the game will come too soon against Leeds as he starts his pre-season.

Reaching the final of the World Cup means Martinez has barely had a break this summer, so it’s certainly likely that he’ll be eased in gently, especially given his previous injury issues.

Kobbie Mainoo

Kobbie Mainoo missed England’s final game of the World Cup due to a back injury, but a report from the Manchester Evening News confirms that he should be returning soon.

The England international also jetted out to Ireland to link up with his teammates at the weekend, so he’ll be in with a shout to face Leeds.

Mason Mount

Mason Mount was substituted during United’s friendly against PSG, playing just 18 minutes against the European champions.

It’s a familiar story for the former Chelsea midfielder, who has struggled immensely with fitness issues since his move to Old Trafford.

Speaking after the game, Carrick provided an update, hinting that it was just a precautionary move from the Red Devils.

“He [Mount] got kicked. We just wanted to be careful and look after him. We’ve been lucky with injuries so far, so we wanted to be careful.”

Karl Darlow

Karl Darlow is still recovering from a minor procedure he had at the end of last season, but they are confident he will be fit in time for the new campaign.

Darlow is unlikely to be named in the starting eleven when the season starts, even if he is fit, but Carrick will be hoping to have him around.

Is with the United squad in Ireland, so be interesting to see whether he’s involved this week.

Aston Villa have been handed a major boost in their bid to land Bayern Munich star Joao Palhinha this summer. Unai Emery is now on the lookout for a new midfielder having lost Youri Tielemans this summer in what was a major blow, and that’s without addressing the loss of Morgan Rogers and the long-term injury suffered by Amadou Onana.

Villa have already made big midfielder signings in the form of Joao Gomes and Johan Manzambi, who, on paper, will serve as the replacements for the two exitees. But Emery is going to want more given the quality of the two players who have left the club.

Bayern Munich star Palhinha is said to be a primary option, with the Portugal international having done well during a loan spell with Tottenham last season, but Spurs passed on their option to buy, instead going out and spending huge money on two other midfield signings.

That has given Villa an opportunity, and there is good news.

Joao Palhinha gives Villa the green light

According to The Sun, via the Birmingham Mail, Palhinha is open to sealing a move to Villa on loan this summer. The former Fulham man was said to be hoping to join Tottenham permanently earlier in the summer, but the signings of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes scuppered any chance of a move.

“He doesn’t just put pressure on them, he goes back to win the ball and does the tackle. It’s amazing to watch sometimes.” – Tom Cairney

Palhinha impressed with Fulham and Spurs, so it’s clear he is comfortable at Premier League level. A return is now on the cards, and the midfielder is seemingly up for the move, and a move to Villa will give him the chance to play Champions League football again.

Villa’s interest in Palhinha is serious, and the club’s sporting director, Damian Vidagany, has already said: “We need a midfielder because Amadou Onana is out for the entire season – and João Palhinha is a very good player who would fit our plans. We are in talks, but there is currently no agreement. If something were to happen, it would always be based on the great respect we have for Bayern.

“We are friendly clubs, and our relationship with Max Eberl, Christoph Freund, and all the other officials is excellent. Therefore, I cannot and do not wish to comment on any further details. I believe Aston Villa would be a great club for the player. In the league, six or seven clubs have a bigger budget than us.”

Joao Palhinha stats in the Premier League last season

• Appearances: 33
• Tackles: 3.3 per game
• Interceptions: 0.9 per game
• Clearances: 0.8 per game
• Goals: 5

Palhinha is a natural ball-winner

via Reuters

In terms of what Palhinha an offer, former Fulham teammate Tom Cairney said it best when he said: “If you lose the ball, he smells blood. He’s probably one of the best I’ve ever seen off the ball, in terms of getting back, recovering and trying to win back the ball.

“He doesn’t just put pressure on them, he goes back to win the ball and does the tackle. It’s amazing to watch sometimes. I think the fans have taken to him. I think he’s been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League.”

Then manager Marco Silva said: “He was an important player in so many moments of the game as well as at set-pieces, due to covering many spaces and allowing the other midfielders to create more freedom.”

Sheffield United have agreed a deal in principle to sign Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips on loan for the season, GMS understands, with Blades boss Chris Wilder making his stance on the player clear.

City signed the Englishman from Leeds United in a deal worth up to £45m in 2022, but the transfer ultimately hasn’t worked out for either party.

Phillips still has two years remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, but he will spend one year of that at Sheffield United after the Championship side reached an agreement for him to move to Bramall Lane on a season-long-loan deal.

It will be the 30-year-old’s second spell with the Blades after he also joined them on loan for the second half of the 2025-26 campaign, which was a spell cut short by injury.

Phillips made just three appearances, including being sent off on his third outing, before suffering an injury which meant that he didn’t wear a red and white shirt for the remainder of the campaign.

Still, Wilder has decided that he clearly saw enough from the midfielder in that short time to bring him back to boost his squad ahead of another gruelling Championship season.

Kalvin Phillips’ Manchester City Career in Numbers

via Reuters

After excelling for Leeds United in the Premier League, and being capped by England as a result, City decided to make a big-money move to prise Phillips away from Elland Road.

Due to various injuries and generally not being fancied for regular minutes by Pep Guardiola, it is a move that simply hasn’t worked out.

Even though Enzo Maresca has now arrived at the Etihad after Guardiola’s summer exit, Phillips’ fortunes haven’t improved and he was excluded from the club’s pre-season tour of Asia, once again showing that his future lies away from the eight-time Premier League champions.

What Kalvin Phillips Said After Joining United in January

While Phillips may be seen by some fans as a player whose career is declining, the 30-year-old clearly believes he still has a lot to give if he can get to playing regularly again.

Shortly after joining the Blades on loan, the midfielder told Sky Sports:

“I want to play as many games as possible. If I’d gone to a Premier League team, it might have taken longer to get into the team, and they have fewer games.

“I’d rather be put in the deep end than work my way in. Chris (Wilder) has been really good with me, asking how I’m feeling and making sure that if there’s anything body-wise or uncomfortable, he’s there to ask the questions.

“Funnily enough, it was early December when I was thinking about going out on loan. Pat {Bamford] texted me and said Chris is asking him to message me to see what I thought about coming here to play a few games. At first, I wasn’t sure, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought, ‘why not?’

“I’m a person who works hard and never gives up on what I believe I can do.

“Any player in my situation would say not playing has been the major reason for a dip. So many players have stayed at clubs for so long without playing, and their careers have fizzled out. I didn’t want that to happen.

“I still feel like I’ve got life in me and a lot of football to play. I’m looking forward to the next three or four years.”