After experiencing a setback due to an injury, Lisandro Martinez is scheduled to have a second operation on his broken metatarsal today.

The 25-year-old Argentine first experienced the problem in April and was sidelined for 11 weeks.

He made a comeback during the preseason and participated in the first four Premier League games for Manchester United.

But during the 3-1 loss to Arsenal last month, the injury to his right foot’s fifth metatarsal resurfaced, forcing him to leave the game.

In order to deal with the pain, he took pills during the defeats to Brighton and Bayern Munich.

The metatarsal, however, has not healed properly, according to tests conducted earlier this week.

The Argentina center defender will now have surgery on his right foot in an effort to address the ongoing issue.

He might not be available for up to three months as a result, and he might not return until the new year.

Erik ten Hag explained the ailment on Friday, saying: “We did a proper diagnosis, in Argentina as well. However, now it appears that there was an issue.

He wasn’t fully fit, so that’s incredibly terrible for him and the team.

“I believe there was a significant change between the Licha Martinez we saw in the first season here and the Licha Martinez in the recent games.

“He will add to the team, a really strong contributor to our levels and if already one player drops a level, the team performance will be lower.”

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What Is Metatarsal?

Metatarsals are bones that can be found between the ankle and toes in the foot.

They are a group of five long bones in the midfoot, located between the tarsal bones (which form the heel and the ankle) and the phalanges (toes).

Football players who play association football frequently break their metatarsal bones. These and other recent incidents have been linked to the lightweight construction of contemporary football boots, which offer less foot protection.

A new sock with a rubber silicone patch over the foot to protect the top of the foot was tested by several football players in 2010.

The metatarsals are the bones most frequently affected by stress fractures, which are considered to be responsible for 16% of injuries sustained when participating in sports.

Due to their historical link with military recruitment following protracted marches, these fractures are commonly referred to as march fractures. Walking fixes the second and third metatarsals, which makes them frequent injury locations.

If the foot over-supinates while moving, the fifth metatarsal could fracture.

Safety shoes with removable or built-in metatarsal guards can provide protection from wounds.