Whiteside backs returning Martinez
Former Manchester United crowd favourite Norman Whiteside has expressed his delight to see Lisandro Martinez return to the squad.
The Argentina international, who has not played since the game against Crystal Palace in early February, has been named in the matchday group for the home clash with Everton tonight (Monday).
The defender has been training with his team-mates and worked with the Argentina squad during the recent international break.
Whiteside, who also played for Everton and scored a famous goal against them in the 1985 FA Cup final, was, like the South American, popular with supporters for his combative nature and aggression on the field.
Ahead of the Premier League contest between his former clubs, the Northern Irishman offered his backing to the centre-back, who could bring a new dimension to the Reds' play.
"I like him," Whiteside told us. "For a compact player, he's such a winner.
"That's what you want. You want people who want to win and he's one of them that would restore that sort of fire at Old Trafford because he's got a bit of fight in him, hasn't he?
"I mean, he's not going to shirk a tackle and stuff like that.
"And he sort of fits our left-hand side. He's been out all this season and a bit of last season, so it's not easy coming back from long-term injuries.
"Let's hope he's over it and gets himself back to what he was, because I like him.
"I like him as a player and I like his commitment."