Lisandro Martinez available for Manchester United’s Leeds trip after apology

Lisandro Martinez is available for Manchester United’s trip to Leeds United after apologising for his public criticism of the club’s hierarchy, manager Michael Carrick said on Friday. The defender is set to be in United’s squad for Sunday’s match, giving Carrick another option against a Leeds side three places above them in the table.

Martinez’s comments followed United’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. He criticised director of football Jason Wilcox over what he viewed as a lack of backing for Carrick in the transfer market. Martinez met with club officials and Carrick on Thursday, then apologised for making his criticism public.

“Licha understood he made a mistake,” Carrick told reporters. “As a group we’ve moved on.” Carrick said Martinez’s acknowledgement was enough for the club to put the issue behind them, while making clear that the defender’s passion needed to be expressed appropriately. “There’s a way in doing that and that’s been acknowledged,” he said. “But we need to carry that passion in the right way.”

The dispute drew criticism from former United players, including Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville, according to Sky Sports. Large sections of United’s support backed Martinez, Metro reported. Carrick said the row had not damaged the squad’s spirit, describing the players as in good spirits and saying they had trained well. He acknowledged that results had not gone United’s way.

Martinez had played the full 90 minutes against Atletico. He had also been blamed for Dominic Solanke’s late equaliser in United’s draw with Tottenham last Saturday. His availability for Leeds does not confirm a starting place, but it gives Carrick another defensive option as United try to improve their position.

United are 13th with six points from six games; Leeds sit seventh with nine. Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo are doubts for the trip, while Benjamin Sesko remains absent, Metro reported. The teams meet at Elland Road on Sunday, 18 October, at 14:00 BST. Carrick says the dressing room has moved on from the Martinez row; the immediate test is whether United can turn that togetherness into a better result against a higher-placed opponent.