Captain Bruno Fernandes has suffered a hamstring injury and is expected to miss up to six crucial matches.
Bruno is out for an extended period.
This also marks the first time since joining Old Trafford that Fernandes has been sidelined with a long-term injury. According to The Sun , the Portuguese international will miss the matches against Newcastle, Wolves, Leeds, Burnley, Brighton (FA Cup) and especially the Manchester derby on January 17th. The match against Arsenal on January 25th could be the earliest he returns.
Fernandes was forced to leave the pitch in the first half of the 1-2 defeat against Aston Villa after suffering a soft tissue problem identified as a hamstring injury. The 31-year-old midfielder's condition was deemed quite serious, to the point that he himself admitted "no" when asked about his availability for the Boxing Day match against Newcastle. Images of Fernandes limping while out for dinner with friends further fueled concerns within the club.
Manchester United's crisis is further exacerbated by Kobbie Mainoo's absence due to a calf injury. Amorim now only has two genuine central midfield options: Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte, a player who has cost MU dearly in all four of his starts this season. Meanwhile, Mason Mount's fitness remains a major question mark.
The personnel issues in midfield reflect Manchester United's long-standing strategic mistakes. In eight years, they have only signed two true central midfielders, Casemiro and Ugarte, while this past summer's budget was almost entirely devoted to attack with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko.
In the near future, MU has begun planning a midfield overhaul, with targets such as Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba, and Alex Scott. But at the moment, with Fernandes absent, anxiety is once again hanging over Old Trafford.