Manchester United face Leeds United this weekend in what promises to be one of the most hostile fixtures of their Premier League season.

But while Michael Carrick will be focused on getting three points and improving United’s disappointing start to the campaign, he has another difficult decision to make.

Does he start Lisandro Martinez?

The footballing world know all about the controversy surrounding the Argentine defender following United’s Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Martinez publicly criticised the club’s hierarchy, questioning their ambition and recruitment, before attempting to clarify his position in subsequent statements.

There has been considerable discussion about whether those comments could ultimately bring his United career to an end.

But before anyone starts considering January transfers or contract extensions, there is a more immediate question.

Should the Argentine even be in the starting eleven against Leeds?

Here are three compelling reasons why Michael Carrick should leave him out.

Firstly, Elland Road is already one of the most intimidating grounds Manchester United can visit.

The rivalry between the two clubs runs deep and Leeds supporters rarely need encouragement to create a hostile atmosphere when United come to town.

So why would Carrick willingly give them another target?

If Lisandro Martinez starts on Sunday, you can almost guarantee that Leeds supporters will be on his back from the opening whistle.

Every misplaced pass, every lost challenge and every mistake will become an opportunity to remind him of the controversy surrounding his comments.

And in a fixture where the atmosphere is already likely to be intense, that could make an extremely difficult afternoon even more challenging.

Of course, professional footballers should be capable of dealing with hostile crowds.

Martinez is an experienced international who has played in World Cups and major European fixtures, but this isn’t about whether he can handle criticism.

It’s about whether Manchester United should voluntarily introduce another distraction into a match where emotions will already be running high.

Leeds United will want to turn Elland Road into an uncomfortable environment for United and starting Martinez would give their supporters an obvious focal point.

And with United desperately needing a result, I don’t see why Carrick should hand the opposition that advantage.

Secondly, whatever your opinion of Martinez’s comments, he publicly challenged the people responsible for running Manchester United.

And he didn’t do it in one interview.

He criticised the hierarchy after the Atletico Madrid defeat and then reinforced his position during another television appearance.

That matters.

Because if a player can publicly question the club’s leadership, issue a clarification, receive a fine or a private warning and then immediately return to the starting eleven, what message does that send?

Manchester United have spent years trying to establish greater accountability and discipline within the club.

Those standards have to apply to everyone.

Nobody is suggesting Martinez should be frozen out indefinitely or that players should never be allowed to express frustration.

There is also a legitimate argument that some of his criticism was justified.

But being right about a problem doesn’t necessarily mean the way you communicate it is acceptable.

Carrick and the hierarchy have to consider the precedent they would be setting.

If there are no visible sporting consequences, what happens the next time another player becomes frustrated with the club’s recruitment or management?

Does everyone get to air their grievances publicly and then carry on as normal?

Leaving Martinez out against Leeds would demonstrate that publicly challenging the club has consequences beyond a conversation behind closed doors.

It wouldn’t need to be a permanent punishment.

But it would send a message that the standards expected at Manchester United apply regardless of a player’s reputation.

And then there is the footballing argument.

Lisandro Martinez hasn’t exactly been producing performances that make him impossible to drop.

His injury record has been a persistent concern throughout his time at United and his displays this season have also attracted criticism.

He has been involved in defensive mistakes against Fulham and Tottenham, while United have continued to struggle defensively.

So why not use this situation as an opportunity to give Ayden Heaven a proper chance?

Heaven is one of the most promising young defenders at the club, but there is only so much United can learn about his potential by giving him occasional appearances or playing him out of position at left-back.

If United genuinely believe he could become an important first-team player, they need to see what he can do at centre-back.

And what better test than Leeds away?

Yes, Elland Road is a difficult place for a young defender to play but that’s precisely the point.

United need players capable of handling pressure, competing physically and maintaining their composure when the atmosphere turns against them.

Heaven won’t develop those qualities by sitting on the bench indefinitely.

Nor will United discover whether he can become Martinez’s long-term replacement without giving him meaningful opportunities.

There is always a risk involved in starting a young player in such a demanding fixture but there is also a risk in continuing to rely on an established defender whose performances and availability have become increasingly difficult to depend upon.

At some stage, United have to find out what they have in Heaven and this weekend provides an opportunity to do exactly that.

Leaving Lisandro Martinez out would undoubtedly attract attention, particularly given everything that has happened since the Atletico Madrid defeat.

But it would be the right decision.

It would avoid giving Leeds supporters another reason to raise the temperature, demonstrate that there are consequences for publicly challenging the club and provide an opportunity to assess one of United’s most promising young defenders.

None of those arguments means Martinez should never play for Manchester United again and none guarantees that Heaven would perform better against Leeds.

But football management involves making decisions that serve both the immediate needs of the team and its longer-term future.

And it’s that balance of those considerations that points towards one conclusion and that’s Lisandro Martinez should be on the bench against Leeds United, with Ayden Heaven given the chance to show why he deserves to take his place.