In the aftermath of Manchester United’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, reports indicate that club captain Bruno Fernandes faces a spell on the sidelines, with concerns mounting over his availability for upcoming fixtures. The Portuguese midfielder’s withdrawal at half-time, due to what appears to be a bothersome hamstring injury, has left United fretting over his potential absence for the next half-dozen matches.
During Sunday’s crucial contest, Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers showcased his prowess by scoring twice, bookending a Matheus Cunha equaliser. Fernandes, however, was the focal point of concern as he departed the fray before the break, later revealing to the public that he won’t recover in time for the Boxing Day encounter with Newcastle.
According to The Sun, Manchester United “fear Bruno Fernandes could be unavailable for the forthcoming Manchester derby, a critical fixture in the calendar.” It’s believed Fernandes could miss several key clashes, including the upcoming home matches against Newcastle and Wolves, as well as trips to Leeds and Burnley in early January. The FA Cup showdown with Brighton and the much-anticipated Old Trafford derby on January 17th also hang in the balance, with a possible return slated for the Arsenal match on January 25th.
Ruben Amorim, the United manager, provided an update on the situation post-match: “It’s a soft tissue problem; I expect him [Fernandes] to miss some games, though it’s hard to say definitively. We’ll need to adapt, find solutions without excuses, and focus on winning our next fixtures.”
Furthermore, the absence of Fernandes coincides with the departure of Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo, and Noussair Mazraoui due to the Africa Cup of Nations, a predicament Newcastle legend Alan Shearer believes will “hurt” United. Shearer conveyed to Betfair: “Missing Fernandes would always be challenging, but simultaneous absences of other key players exacerbate the issue. His impact cannot be overstated, as his consistent presence often steels United through difficult spots. Performance-wise, United held their own against Villa, yet Morgan Rogers proved decisive.”
Amidst the injury woes, United, like Newcastle, are grappling with a depleted squad. Nevertheless, young talents such as Lewis Miley, lauded for his exceptional performance at right-back, provide a silver lining in these testing times.
In the weeks ahead, Manchester United face a litmus test of resilience, as they strive to navigate the tumult brought on by injury and international absences.