BREAKING NEWS: “We called him to the first-team because we believe he’ll add the quality needed in that particular position”: Manchester United’s coach Ruben Amorim has promoted an academy star who’s regarded as the next Lionel Messi to the club first-team due to lack of quality in ONE position.

Rúben Amorim Elevates Promising Academy Player to First-Team After Lisandro Martínez’s Injury

Rúben Amorim has brought an exciting young player from Manchester United’s Academy into the first-team squad after Lisandro Martínez suffered a serious injury last week.

United’s 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace on Sunday was already a tough blow for Amorim and his players, but things took a turn for the worse when Martínez appeared to suffer a severe injury late in the match.

In the 82nd minute, the Argentine defender went for a 50/50 challenge with Palace’s Ismaïla Sarr but landed awkwardly, causing his knee to bend unnaturally. Replays of the incident only heightened concerns about the severity of the injury.

Martínez, clearly in severe pain, stayed on the pitch as medical staff rushed to assist him. After several minutes of treatment, he was stretchered off, with Matthijs de Ligt replacing him.

A vital player in United’s defensive lineup, Martínez had started 15 of the team’s last 16 matches, scoring two goals and adding an assist in 2025. His absence presents a significant challenge for Amorim.

Academy Talent Steps Up Amid Defensive Crisis

With United failing to secure a last-minute signing to cover for Martínez, questions have arisen about how Amorim will manage his defensive resources going forward.

Though Luke Shaw is expected to fill in at left center-back once he recovers from his own injury, the manager also has Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, and Noussair Mazraoui available.

However, Amorim has now made the bold move to promote 17-year-old defender Dante Plunkett to first-team training.

Plunkett, who joined United from Aston Villa in May 2024, recently shared on Instagram that he had been training with the senior squad—a sign that the coaching staff is considering him as a possible defensive option.

Who is Dante Plunkett?

Plunkett is seen as a promising defensive prospect, having mostly played for United’s U18 team since his arrival.

While he is naturally a left-back, his performances under Adam Lawrence’s guidance have shown his strong defensive qualities, which may have prompted Amorim to experiment with him in a central role during training.

In addition to his defensive skills, Plunkett has also contributed to the attack, recording two goals and two assists for the U18s across all competitions this season.

With United still grappling with defensive injury issues and missing out on reinforcements in the January transfer window, Amorim is now using the opportunity to assess what the Academy can offer during these final crucial months of the season.