Lisandro Martinez deserves to be more popular among Dream Team bosses after 19-point Game Week

IS it possible that Dream Team managers are sleeping on Lisandro Martinez (£4.1m)?

That seems unlikely given the Argentina international recently won the World Cup – that sort of thing tends not to go unnoticed – but his current ownership of 6.8% feels a tad low all things considered.

We’ll give gaffers the benefit of the doubt and conclude that his popularity is still recovering from his absence post-Qatar when he was given extended leave to attend celebrations in his homeland.

However, the Manchester United centre-back underlined his viability with a mighty 19-point haul this Game Week.

gettyNow a top ten defender in the realm of Dream Team![/caption]

The unstoppable Kieran Trippier (£6.3m) was the only defender to match Martinez for points in Game Week 19.

Racking up such a haul is difficult enough for a defender in normal circumstances but the 25-year-old managed to do it despite being part of a defence that conceded three goals at the Emirates on Sunday.

Martinez left north London with his head held high despite his side’s defeat to Arsenal because of his headed goal and a thoroughly deserved 7+ rating to pouch six points when all was said and done.

He then banked a further 13 points thanks to a Star Man display (and clean sheet) against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.

Game Week 19 was Martinez’s most profitable of the campaign so far and his overall of 87 points is enough to make him the tenth-best defender in the game.

Erik ten Hag’s side may have been humbled by the Gunners but, generally speaking, they have made big strides in recent months.

The loss to Mikel Arteta’s troops is their only defeat in their last 12 games.

The Butcher stands tallgetty

And a quick glance at the Red Devils’ upcoming fixtures suggests a good chance of more positive results to come.

They face Reading in the FA Cup this Saturday before fulfilling the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Forest, in which they hold a 3-0 aggregate lead.

After that they host Crystal Palace in the league before a double header against Leeds, who they have beaten heavily a few times since the Yorkshire club were promoted.

It depends on team selections of course, but Martinez will be eyeing his fair share of clean sheets and 7+ ratings from those five fixtures.

The ex-Ajax defender will surely be a relatively popular recruit once transfers are refreshed in February.