Erik ten Hag has warned that despite being back in training for a “long time,” Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro could still be weeks away from returning to play.

Martinez has been out with a foot injury since September, while Casemiro last played on September 1 due to a hamstring injury.

Both the Argentine and the Brazilian were expected to return to action this month, and that could still happen, but Ten Hag has made no promises.

After working on the turf for many days, the Red Devils manager admits it could be weeks before the defender and midfielder take the ‘next steps’ towards a return.

‘They have been back on the grass for a long time and are now returning to team training but not totally, so partial,’ Ten Hag said at a press conference ahead of Monday night’s FA Cup encounter against Wigan.

‘Now they must take the next stages, which may take several days, if not weeks.’

Manchester United still have a long list of injuries, but Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, and Anthony Martial all expected to return for the Premier League match against Tottenham on January 14.

Rasmus Hojlund is expected to return even sooner, and is expected to play against Wigan on Monday after recovering from the sickness that kept him out of the defeat to Nottingham Forest last time out.

‘He will return,’ Ten Hag said. ‘He fell out shortly before the game [against Forest], so he was a touch under the weather.

‘We anticipated him to play the day before, but he dropped out soon before the game, but he is back in training.’