Ruben Amorim was keen to avoid dwelling on it, but Diogo Dalot had no hesitation in spelling out the reality: Manchester United face a huge setback without Bruno Fernandes.
The Portugal defender admitted he was unsure how serious the injury was that forced Fernandes off at half-time during United’s 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, but his verdict was blunt.
“It’s massive,” Dalot told Sky Sports. “We don’t know how bad it is yet, but for Bruno to come off says a lot because everyone knows how tough he is.”
That statement carries weight when Fernandes’ injury record is considered. Since joining United, the captain has missed only two matches through injury, both late in the 2023-24 season when he was nursing a knee problem while pushing himself to be fit for the FA Cup final. Aside from that, he has sat out just one game due to illness.
Fernandes remains the heartbeat of United’s side and their primary creative outlet. Even after operating in a slightly deeper role this season, he has still contributed five goals and seven assists. Before the Villa Park clash, United had played only four Premier League matches in which they scored and Fernandes was not involved in at least one goal.
It was no surprise, then, that Amorim was reluctant to spend too much time discussing his captain’s likely absence.
“I don’t want to talk about things you can’t control,” the United boss said. “It’s a soft tissue issue. I think he’s going to miss some games, but I don’t know for sure. He’s someone who is almost always fit, so he might recover quite well.”
Amorim did confirm, however, that Fernandes will miss the Boxing Day fixture against Newcastle at Old Trafford. The midfielder first felt his hamstring tighten late in the first half against Villa. Although he reached the interval, he did not return after the break and was visibly struggling as he slowly made his way to the dugout.
For Amorim, the challenge is now twofold: finding a way to cope without his most influential player, and discovering how long that absence will last.
After the Newcastle match, United face four games in the space of two weeks, finishing with an FA Cup third-round tie against Brighton. Premier League showdowns with Manchester City and Arsenal are also on the horizon.
What complicates matters further is the sudden strain on a squad that had largely avoided injuries earlier in the season. Fernandes’ setback comes just as Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui prepare to depart for Africa Cup of Nations duty, which could keep them away until after the home clash with City on January 17.
United are also still without experienced defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire, both sidelined for several weeks with no clear return dates. Midfield options are stretched even thinner by Kobbie Mainoo’s calf problem, which kept him out of the Villa game and will “probably” rule him out against Newcastle as well.
“We have to find different solutions,” Amorim admitted.
There is at least some relief in Casemiro’s return from suspension, while Manuel Ugarte is expected to be available. However, confidence is hardly boosted by the statistic that United have failed to win any of the last nine league games started by the Uruguayan, a run worseed at the club only by Brazilian midfielder Kleberson.
Lisandro Martinez filled in for Fernandes against Villa and performed respectably, but Amorim previously stressed that using the Argentine in midfield would only be a last-resort measure. Eighteen-year-old Jack Fletcher, son of former United midfielder Darren Fletcher, made his debut from the bench, though expectations remain cautious given his age and inexperience.
With options dwindling, pressure from supporters is likely to grow for reinforcements in the January transfer window. Amorim, however, has already insisted he will not be rushed into signings and will stick to previously identified targets.
Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo is among those admired, while former Wolves captain Ruben Neves, who is reportedly considering a return to Europe from Saudi Arabia, fits the profile of midfielder United are seeking.
Despite taking just 10 points from their last eight matches, slipping to seventh in the table and sitting only four points above 14th place, Amorim remains determined not to abandon the club’s longer-term strategy.
“What we can’t do is reach January and act out of urgency, make mistakes, and then be back to square one,” he said. “I’m not going to sit with Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada and demand lots of players.
“We have a plan, and the club comes first. If we have to suffer, we suffer. Of course, we need points right now, but we also need solutions, and we’re going to stick to our plan.
“You can feel this is going to be a difficult moment, but we’ll see.”
