Newcastle United’s Champions League rivals rocked by second injury blow in a matter of days

One of Newcastle United’s main rivals for a Champions League place have been dealt a second major injury blow inside the space of four days.

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez was carried off during the closing stages of the first leg of his side’s Europe League quarter-final tie with La Liga club Sevilla on Thursday night after going down with what initially seemed to be innocuous looking injury.

After turning on the ball midway inside his own half, Martinez fell to the floor clutching his heel before being helped off the field by visitors duo Gonzalo Montiel and Marcus Acuna. Although the severity of the injury is yet to be officially confirmed, the sight of Martinez being stretchered away from the sidelines and into the Old Trafford dressing rooms will cause further cause for concern for Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag, who also lost the services of Raphael Varane during the first-half of the game.

The Dutch boss is already dealing with the news in-form forward Marcus Rashford is set to be out of the action ‘for a few games’ after suffering a muscle injury in Saturday’s 2-0 home win against Premier League rivals Everton. Speaking of Rashford’s injury ahead of the home leg against Sevilla, Ten Hag said: “It’s a setback and he’s disappointed about it, but he’s not totally broke because he knows he will return quickly. He’s optimistic and he’s started straight on his recovery and his rehab so that helps to get back soon.”

Ten Hag has recently complained about the impact his side’s hectic schedule has made on his squad and his mood will hardly have been helped by watching his side throw away a two-goal lead agianst the La Liga side, with Youssef En-Nesyri’s equaliser coming just moments after Martinez left the action.

The Red Devils are back in action on Sunday afternoon when they visit relegation threatened Nottingham Forest.