Tuesday night's Premier League encounter between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford is set to be heavily impacted by a significant absentee list. A combination of injuries, suspension, and Africa Cup of Nations commitments could see a total of 15 players miss the crucial fixture.
Manchester United's Mounting Injury Concerns
The home side's preparations have been dealt a severe blow, with key midfielder Bruno Fernandes a major doubt. The Portuguese star limped off with a hamstring injury against Aston Villa before Christmas and, while eager to return, is expected to be sidelined for a couple more weeks.
He is joined on the treatment table by Mason Mount, who is a doubt after suffering muscle tightness against Newcastle. The club is taking no risks with his fitness. Youngster Kobbie Mainoo (calf) is also likely to miss the game, though he could return to training this week.
In defence, manager Ruben Amorim has confirmed that neither Harry Maguire (thigh) nor Matthijs de Ligt (back) are expected to be ready in time for the visit of Wolves, despite being close to returns.
Furthermore, United are affected by the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, with Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) and Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) away on international duty.
Wolves Hit by Suspension and Fitness Issues
Wolves will be without a pivotal figure in midfield, as Andre serves a one-match suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the match against Liverpool.
Their injury list is also lengthy. Toti Gomes (hamstring) and Marshall Munetsi (calf) are expected to be out for several weeks, while Jean-Ricner Bellegarde remains sidelined with illness. Long-term absentees include Rodrigo Gomes (groin) and youngster Leon Chiwome (ACL).
Like United, Wolves have lost a player to the Africa Cup of Nations, with defender Emmanuel Agbadou representing Ivory Coast.
Implications for the Old Trafford Clash
The sheer scale of absences for both sides is set to force managers Ruben Amorim and his Wolves counterpart into significant tactical reshuffles. The missing personnel, particularly in midfield and defence, could lead to a more unpredictable and open contest at Old Trafford.
With Bruno Fernandes absent for United and Andre suspended for Wolves, the battle in the centre of the park will feature unfamiliar faces. This presents an opportunity for squad players to step up, but also a challenge for both teams to maintain their usual structure and cohesion.
The outcome of this Premier League fixture may well be decided by which team best adapts to its depleted resources, making team selection and in-game management more critical than ever.
