Ruben Amorim says he expects Bruno Fernandes to be out for a ‘while’ after Manchester United’s captain was forced off with a muscle injury in the side’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.
Fernandes’ recent criticism of United had dominated much of the build-up to Sunday’s contest, but it’s the midfielder’s fitness that will be of utmost concern to Amorim ahead of a busy festive period.
The 31-year-old Portugal international was seen rubbing the back of his right leg and appeared in some discomfort during an absorbing first half, in which Matheus Cunha cancelled out Morgan Rogers’ stunning opener.
And while Fernandes managed to play on until the break, he did not re-emerge with the rest of his team-mates for the second period, with Lisandro Martinez sent on in his place before Rogers scored again to win for Villa.
Fernandes has enjoyed a remarkable track record with his fitness since arriving in English football back in 2020, missing just 17 of the 325 games that United have played in that time.
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The concerning injury to United’s skipper and talisman comes at an especially bad time for Ruben Amorim, who is currently without eight first-team players during the club’s hectic winter schedule.
Before the clash had even kicked off, the United head coach revealed that Kobbie Mainoo could not be selected at Villa Park after he had gone down with a calf problem in training.
‘I think it’s soft tissue so it’s going to be a while. We’ll see,’ Amorim told Sky Sports when asked for an update on Fernandes’ fitness shortly after United’s loss.
‘It is really strange. During this year, especially at this time, we have so many problems, but we have to cope with that. I think [Jack] Fletcher did his first game, so that is good news, [Shea] Lacey the same, so we will try to find solutions and go for the next game.
‘I am a manager for six years and even Sporting is all about the academy, so it’s about the history. Every manager wants to bring players through from the academy and not spend money because this gives value to the manager.
‘I just want to win and want to be certain that the players that come in from the academy are not going to suffer too much. I’m just trying to help the club, it doesn’t matter if it’s from the academy or abroad.’
In his post-match interview with Sky Sports, Diogo Dalot insisted United’s growing list of injuries could present ‘opportunities’ for some of the more peripheral members of Amorim’s squad.
On Fernandes’ injury, the United defender said: ‘It’s massive.
‘We don’t know how bad it is but for him to come off, we know how tough it is for him to come off.
‘But hopefully it’s not too bad and we have him for the next few games.
‘This is a time when opportunities come for other players.
‘It’s a time when you can step up and show why you deserve to play in the team and get more minutes.’
More to follow.
from: elfutbolero.us