Man United captain Bruno Fernandes is set to miss several games with a hamstring injury, compounding a growing injury crisis for manager Ruben Amorim
MANCHESTER United manager Ruben Amorim fears captain Bruno Fernandes will be sidelined for “a while” after suffering an injury in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.
The Portugal midfielder, who has started every Premier League game this season, pulled up with a hamstring issue just before half-time at Villa Park.
Fernandes attempted to play on but did not return for the second half and has been ruled out of the Boxing Day clash against Newcastle United.
“It’s a soft tissue injury,” Amorim said. “I think he’s going to lose some games.”
The manager added that Fernandes’s recovery timeline remains uncertain, casting severe doubt over his availability for the rest of the festive fixture schedule.
Fernandes’s injury compounds United’s selection crisis, with midfielder Kobbie Mainoo also missing the Villa game due to a calf problem.
Mainoo, whose half-brother wore a ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ t-shirt at Old Trafford earlier in the week, is now set to miss the Newcastle match as well.
“I think Kobbie Mainoo is out, Bruno is out, so we will see,” Amorim stated. “We are going to find solutions. No excuses.”
United’s absentee list is lengthening, with Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire are also sidelined, though Casemiro will return from suspension against Newcastle.
The injury crisis has increased speculation about potential January signings, but Amorim insisted the club will not make panic buys.
“We need to deal with that,” he said. “What we cannot do is to reach January and try to do everything in urgency and make mistakes.”
The manager affirmed that the club has a transfer plan and will stick to it, prioritising long-term stability over short-term fixes.
“We are in a moment where we need points, but we need to find solutions and we are going to continue with our plan,” Amorim concluded.
