NEW RETURN DATE CONFIRMED: Club doctors release another official update on when Bruno Fernandez will be back from injury after suffering a nasty career ending injury against Aston Villa last weekend – as Player is set to return sooner than expected
Ruben Amorim has confirmed Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo will be unavailable for Manchester United’s game against Newcastle due to injury. Fernandes started against Aston Villa last weekend, but he was brought off at half-time after holding his hamstring. Mainoo was absent from the squad in Birmingham after picking up an injury in training.
Amorim confirmed Fernandes had suffered a muscle injury following the Villa defeat, but the United boss provided a further team news update during his Christmas Eve press conference. Speaking about Fernandes and Mainoo, he said: “No, not for this game [Newcastle], they are recovering. I don’t think it will take a lot of time, I think Kobbie will return faster than Bruno.”
When asked when Fernandes would return, Amorim responded: “I don’t want to say. I have an idea, of course, but let’s see.” Amorim was asked about filling the void and said: “We have other players, we need to maybe see different ways of playing. I think Jack Fletcher did a very good job, and that’s why when we have these opportunities, we need to give space to guys like Jack and the other ones.”
Fernandes has only missed two United matches due to injury during his time at Old Trafford. The midfielder’s other enforced absence was due to illness against Tottenham in March 2022. Harry Maguire has not played since picking up a hamstring injury against Tottenham Hotspur on November 8, while Matthijs de Ligt last played against Crystal Palace on November 30 due to a back injury.
Both Maguire and De Ligt remain unavailable. “We are still working with them,” Amorim said about the pair. “They are not available for this one, but let’s see for the next one.”
Casemiro will be available to face Newcastle on Boxing Day after serving a suspension last weekend. The Brazilian was forced to sit out the visit to Birmingham after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.
Amorim will oversee his second game without Bryan Mbeumo and Amad, who both started in the 4-4 draw against Bournemouth before travelling to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Noussair Mazraoui is representing the AFCON host nation Morocco at the tournament.
