Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has been included in the squad for Sunday’s Premier League encounter against Leeds United after apologising for his public criticism of the club’s leadership, head coach Michael Carrick has confirmed.

The Argentina international’s availability follows discussions with the club’s senior officials and Carrick on Thursday, during which the defender addressed his comments after United’s 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Martinez had criticised the club’s transfer strategy and expressed disappointment over what he considered insufficient investment in the squad, specifically questioning director of football Jason Wilcox.

The 28-year-old subsequently issued an apology, acknowledging that his frustration over the defeat had led him to express his views at an inappropriate time and in an unsuitable manner.

He also recognised that his remarks had not helped the club’s efforts to maintain unity and said the focus should return to achieving success together.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday ahead of the trip to Leeds, Carrick said the defender had acknowledged his mistake and that the club was ready to move forward.

“He's released his statement and realised he made a mistake. That's enough for us to move on with,” the coach said.

Carrick dismissed suggestions that the incident had damaged relationships within the dressing room, insisting that the players remained united and in good spirits despite the controversy.

He said the squad had trained well and described the atmosphere within the group as positive, adding that external commentary did not necessarily reflect the situation inside the club.

The incident had attracted criticism from former Manchester United players, including Wayne Rooney, who warned that Martinez’s remarks could have a negative effect on team unity.

Despite the resolution of the immediate dispute, questions remain over Martinez’s longer-term future at Old Trafford. His current contract is due to expire next summer, although the club has an option to extend it for another year.

Manchester United are also understood to be considering defensive reinforcements in upcoming transfer windows as they seek to strengthen their squad.

United travel to Elland Road on Sunday for a fixture against their longstanding rivals, with the club under pressure to improve its recent results.

Carrick’s side will be looking to end a five-match winless run, with the manager emphasising the importance of concentrating on performances rather than allowing the controversy to distract the team.

The encounter against Leeds will therefore provide Martinez and his teammates with an opportunity to turn their attention back to football following a week dominated by questions about the club’s leadership and transfer policy.