Manchester United are bracing themselves for life without Bruno Fernandes after head coach Ruben Amorim admitted it is “impossible” to replace his captain, who could be sidelined for up to a month with a hamstring injury.
Fernandes was forced off during Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, a moment that instantly raised alarm bells at Old Trafford. Amorim confirmed shortly after the match that the Portugal international would miss Friday night’s clash with Newcastle, and while he stopped short of placing a firm timeline on the midfielder’s recovery, the expectation inside the club is that Fernandes will return for the Manchester derby against City on 17 January. That would leave United without their talisman for as many as five matches.
The timing could hardly be worse. Fernandes’ injury compounds an already growing list of absentees, with Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui all away at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Kobbie Mainoo, the most natural on-field replacement, is sidelined with a calf problem. Defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire also remain unavailable, leaving Amorim short of options in multiple areas of the pitch.
“It is impossible to replace Bruno,” Amorim said. “I said that this morning to the team. We need to take the good thing, if there is a good thing on that – a lot of people need to step up.”
Few players in modern Premier League history have been as ever-present as Fernandes has been for United. Since arriving from Sporting in January 2020, the 31-year-old has missed just three matches through injury or illness. His current setback will be his longest absence in a United shirt, even if it falls short of early fears of a six-week lay-off.
For Amorim, who knows Fernandes well from their shared Portuguese football culture, the loss goes beyond goals and assists. “It is not just the creation,” he explained. “At every set-piece he is the guy organising the team. He understands every position on the field and pays attention to every detail.”
Those leadership qualities were evident again at Villa Park, where Fernandes spent his final minutes directing teammates before being substituted. Diogo Dalot eventually wore the captain’s armband, though Amorim also pointed to Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw as senior figures capable of guiding a depleted side.
With Mainoo also injured, the spotlight is likely to fall on United’s younger players. Academy prospects Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey both made their senior debuts off the bench against Villa, and further opportunities now seem inevitable. Casemiro’s return from suspension offers some stability in midfield, but creativity will need to be shared across the team rather than funnelled through one familiar source.
The upcoming fixture list offers both pressure and opportunity. After Newcastle, United face Wolves, Leeds and Burnley – all sides currently fighting relegation. These are matches United would expect to win, yet recent failures to capitalise on similar chances have stalled their push towards the Champions League places.
Amorim, however, remains defiant. “I am confident we can win any game,” he said. “Of course we have some problems, but even without many players I believe in the team.”
Whether belief alone can compensate for the absence of Fernandes remains to be seen. For now, United must discover how resilient they truly are without the player who has so often been their heartbeat.
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