Fear was understandably etched across the faces of many of the Manchester United faithful when Lisandro Martinez was carried out of action by the stretcher against Sevilla on Thursday night.
The former Ajax defender has been one of the Red Devils' standout performers this season ever since his £55million summer switch, but it looks like Erik ten Hag will have to go without Martinez for at least the next game following his injury in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final.
The Argentine went down in pain while dribbling the ball shortly before Sevilla started their late comeback from 2-0 down to draw 2-2, leaving the Red Devils with 10 men in the latter stages and leaving the tie evenly poised ahead of a mouthwatering second leg in southern Spain next Thursday.
Things got even worse for United when fellow central defender Raphael Varane followed Martinez down the Old Trafford tunnel with an injury of his own.
After the game, Ten Hag opened up on what the response to Martinez's injury was like in the United dressing room as well as issuing an update on how long he could be ruled out.
"I think he will not play on Sunday [away to Nottingham Forest], it looks like that but I can't say what the diagnosis is and I prefer to wait and then we are clear and know exactly what it is," the Dutchman explained.
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"I have spoken to him and he's okay, he's calm. We are competing in three competitions so you need a squad. If Licha and [Raphael] Varane are not available on Sunday then others have to do it.
"We have seen Harry Maguire play a good game on Saturday and tonight also he played a really good game."
The fact that United aren't hitting the panic button and sweating over Martinez's potential lengthy absence is a testament to the kind of culture Ten Hag has managed to create in the red half of Manchester.
With Martinez sidelined it is almost certain that the much-maligned Maguire will come in and deputise for at least the trip to Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.
Under previous regimes, that may have been a cause for concern within United ranks, particularly with Champions League football on the line in the final nine games of the season.
However, Ten Hag appears to have the faith of every player in his squad and as a result, there is no fear in the face of Martinez's injury. This is essential for a Red Devils side still in the hunt for both the FA Cup and the Europa League as well as a top-four finish.
