Last night, Manchester United faced a significant setback not just from their 2-1 loss to Aston Villa but also with the injury to their captain, Bruno Fernandes.
During the first half, Fernandes was seen holding the back of his right leg, signaling a hamstring issue, and he was substituted at halftime for Lisandro Martinez.
It has now been confirmed that the Portugal international will be sidelined for around a month due to this soft-tissue injury, raising concerns for United.
The team is now missing seven of their starting players, with Fernandes joining Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Lit, and Kobbie Mainoo in the treatment room at Carrington.
Additionally, Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui are participating in the Africa Cup of Nations and could be unavailable until mid-January 2026.
This situation highlights issues with squad depth at Old Trafford, especially with some fringe players like Toby Collyer currently out on loan. This left Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey to make their senior debuts at Villa Park.
Manager Ruben Amorim has acknowledged these challenges and has expressed worries about the potential for panic buying in the January transfer window.
The Guardian reported Amorim’s stance on the upcoming transfer window: “What we cannot do is reach January and try to do everything in urgency and make mistakes, which leads to the same issues as before.”
He emphasized, “I’m not going to meet with Jason and Omar to say we need many players because we already have a plan.
“If we have to endure some difficulties, the club comes first. We certainly need points at this moment, but we must seek solutions and stick to our plan.
“It’s clear that we are likely to face challenges, but we will manage it.”
Amorim is committed to maintaining the existing plan despite these player absences, though it remains uncertain if the club’s leadership shares this viewpoint.
Add Footem.in As your Preferred Source on Google
Follow the latest on Footem WhatsApp Channel