Manchester United face up to a month without Bruno Fernandes after a hamstring injury, with Ruben Amorim calling his captain impossible to replace.
Manchester United could be without Bruno Fernandes for up to a month after the midfielder suffered a hamstring injury. The club captain was forced off at half time during Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa. Ruben Amorim confirmed Fernandes will miss the Boxing Day clash against Newcastle.
The United head coach refused to give a firm return date but admitted the situation is serious. Sources believe Fernandes is targeting a comeback for the Manchester derby on 17 January. That would rule him out of five matches in all competitions.
Amorim was clear about the scale of the loss when speaking to the media. He described Fernandes as impossible to replace due to his influence on and off the ball. The Portuguese midfielder handles organisation, set pieces and pressing responsibilities.
Fernandes leads United for goal involvements this season. He has 12 league goal contributions, five more than any teammate. He has also posted 96 ball recoveries, highlighting his defensive work. United’s recent record without him is worrying. They have lost five of their last six league games when Fernandes has missed out. The team struggles to control tempo and create chances in his absence.
Fernandes has been a constant presence since joining from Sporting in January 2020. In 221 Premier League games played by United during that period, he has featured in 212. Only three of his absences have been due to injury or illness.
United’s options are further limited by other absentees. Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Kobbie Mainoo missed the Villa defeat with a calf problem and is unlikely to face Newcastle.
Defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire also remain sidelined. Casemiro returns after suspension, but Amorim will still be missing seven senior players. The lack of depth places extra strain on an already inconsistent side.
Amorim has stressed it is "impossible to replace Bruno," but several players could assume greater responsibility. Lisandro Martinez replaced Fernandes at Villa Park and impressed when moved into midfield. Mason Mount, in good form with three league goals this season, can operate as a number 10 or right-wing midfielder alongside Casemiro. Manuel Ugarte, although struggling in recent games, remains an option to partner Casemiro in central midfield.
Kobbie Mainoo, Fernandes’ most similar midfield alternative, is recovering from a calf injury and may return soon. Academy graduates Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey also made their senior debuts at Villa Park and could receive more playing time during Fernandes’ absence. Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot are additional senior players expected to step up and provide leadership on and off the ball.
With Fernandes unavailable, Amorim may tweak his system, using a midfield three to better accommodate players like Mainoo. Casemiro will return from suspension against Newcastle, offering a more stable midfield base. Mount and Martinez can provide the creative spark, while Ugarte may provide additional defensive coverage. The squad’s flexibility will be tested during this busy fixture period.
United face Newcastle on December 26th, before welcoming Wolves four days later on December 30th, They then travel to Leeds on January 4th, and Burnley on January 7th. These games offer opportunities for players to step up in Fernandes’ absence. After that facing Brighton in the FA Cup on January 11th, Amorim’s side faces back-to-back league fixtures against Manchester City and Arsenal. Amorim remains confident in his squad’s ability to compete, despite the injury setbacks.
