Manchester United get Lisandro Martinez boost ahead of Newcastle game

Lisandro Martinez will return to the Manchester United squad for their final home game of the season against Newcastle on Wednesday night.

The centre back has not played since the 1-1 draw with Brentford on March 30 after he sustained a calf injury in a training session.

Martinez has only played 11 times this season due to a second round of surgery on a metatarsal fracture in September, a medial collateral ligament injury to his knee in February and the calf strain.

Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Willy Kambwala will be assessed ahead of the Newcastle match. Kambwala returned from injury as a second-half substitute against Arsenal on Sunday but Fernandes sat out the 1-0 defeat.

Rashford is recovering from bruised ribs and a bruised heel and it is understood he would prefer to delay his return until the game away to Brighton on the final day of the season.

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"Licha Martinez: I think he will return to the squad," United manager Erik ten Hag said. "He's done some sessions with us and we plan for him to be available if this afternoon everything goes right in training. He will return to the squad.

"For some other players we have to see: Rashford, Bruno, Willy Kambwala, if they are fit enough."

Raphael Varane confirmed he will leave United at the end of the season after three variable years with the club. Varane has been sidelined since he came off at half-time in the 4-3 defeat to Chelsea on April 4 but Ten Hag suggested he could return against Brighton.

"We are planning, definitely, for the last games," Ten Hag said of Varane. "Not tomorrow but we hope for Sunday and then, of course, for the last game."

Newcastle are three points clear of United in the Premier League table and if they avoid defeat at Old Trafford they are certain to finish above United for the first time since 1977.

"It's a very important game," Ten Hag stressed. "You get the ranking, so it's very important to get the win. We have to do everything in it to get the win and we have to fight hard for it."