Lisandro Martinez starts for Manchester United in their crunch clash with rivals Leeds this afternoon, but Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo both miss out.

The Argentine defender has dominated back-page headlines after his remarkable outburst that followed struggling United’s 2-0 loss at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, slamming the club hierarchy - and particularly director of football Jason Wilcox - for producing an underwhelming summer transfer window and accusing some of his team-mates of not working hard enough.

His comments are said to have sparked unrest in the Man Utd dressing room, with reports suggesting that he has been confronted by at least one team-mate since.

Martinez has now apologised for his comments following talks with senior club executives and has reportedly been fined, and keeps his place in the starting XI for Sunday’s trip to Elland Road as United seek a first win in six games across all competitions to ease some of the mounting pressure on Carrick.

"It's done,” Carrick said of the Martinez saga on Friday. “We've moved on from that. It was one of those things. As a group we've moved on. It's really not a drama for the group. The squad have trained really well and they are in good spirits.

"It was pretty simple. We understood the situation. Licha [Martinez] understood he made a mistake. We have a really good felling from the club. Results wise it hasn't gone our way, but the spirit and togetherness, we can see in the group we want to do something with this situation.

"We've moved on. Genuinely. There is a freshness about the group. He [Martinez] is available."

Michael Carrick has drawn a line under the Lisandro Martinez drama

PA

Elsewhere, influential captain Bruno Fernandes has not been restored to his favoured No10 role against Leeds as Carrick sticks with experiment of with using him as a right winger, as was the case in Madrid.

Bryan Mbeumo has been used in a central role in the two games since the international break and will continue to do so as Matheus Cunha and Marcus Rashford are on the bench.

Harry Maguire is recalled in defence as Ayden Heaven makes way, Leny Yoro looks set to operate at right-back once again, with Diogo Dalot filling in for Shaw on the opposite side.

Elsewhere, Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu, Manuel Ugarte and Tom Heaton all remain sidelined with more significant issues.

CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Yoro, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Santos, Baleba; Fernandes, Tielemans, Amad; Mbeumo.

Substitutes: Darlow, Amass, De Ligt, Mazraoui, Mount, Cunha, Lacey, Rashford, Zirkzee.

Doubts: Mainoo, Shaw

Injured: Sesko, Dorgu, Ugarte, Heaton

Time and date: 2pm BST on Sunday October 18, 2026

Venue: Elland Road

How to watch: Sky Sports