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Martinez saw his excellent first season in English football ended early by injury last term, suffering a broken metatarsal in a Europa League clash against Sevilla in April.
The Argentina international returned to the squad in the summer, starting the first five league games of the season and the Champions League group opener against Bayern Munich.
In the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in August, Martinez was forced off with a foot issue but was back in the side after the international break against Brighton and for that game against Bayern that followed four days later.
United confirmed on Friday their defender is now facing an ‘extended period out’ after aggravating the injury with ten Hag admitting Martinez played despite injury fears.
Asked whether starting Martinez in those games had backfired, ten Hag told reporters on Friday: ‘So we did a proper diagnostic, but [they also did] in Argentina as well.
‘Now it [has] came out that there was a problem, that’s very sad, first place of course for Licha, but also for the team because he wasn’t 100 per cent fit.’
While one of United’s best performers last season, Martinez has been criticised by former players this term with the club conceding 14 goals in a run of five games when he was part of the starting XI.
‘I think it was a big difference that Licha Martinez played in those [last two] games [against Brighton and Bayern] as it wasn’t [the] Licha Martinez we have seen in the first season here at Manchester United,’ ten Hag said.
‘He will add to the team but not only that, he is a strong contributor to our levels. If already one player drops a level, then also the team performance levels will be lower.’
United are contending with a number of injuries at the back with Sergio Reguilon joining Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the sidelines.
It leaves Diogo Dalot as their only recognised full-back.
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