Manchester United secured a vital 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, but the win was marred by a growing injury crisis within the squad. Patrick Dorgu's first-half goal proved decisive for Ruben Amorim's side, who held on despite being without captain Bruno Fernandes and young star Kobbie Mainoo, while Mason Mount was forced off injured during the match.
Mount Adds to United's Midfield Concerns
The victory, which ended a winless run stretching back to early December, was overshadowed by the sight of Mason Mount being substituted at half-time. Manager Ruben Amorim revealed the midfielder "felt something" and, despite wanting to continue, was withdrawn as a precaution. "We cannot lose more players, if you are not 100 per cent," Amorim stated, highlighting the squad's fragility.
Mount now faces a race to be fit for United's next Premier League encounter, a home fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 30 December. His potential return is pencilled in for that match or the subsequent trip to Leeds United on 4 January.
Key Absentees and Their Road to Recovery
The absence of Bruno Fernandes was keenly felt, with the Portuguese playmaker sidelined for a few weeks with a hamstring injury sustained against Aston Villa. His missed game against Newcastle was only the third time he has been absent through injury in his six-year United career. A return is currently targeted for sometime in January.
There is more positive news regarding defender Harry Maguire, who is nearing a return after several weeks out and could be in contention for the Wolves match. Similarly, Matthijs de Ligt is edging closer to a comeback from a back injury and United are hopeful he will be available for selection on Tuesday.
Young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo remains a doubt with a calf issue that has kept him out of the last two games. His return is also imminent, but it is uncertain whether he will feature against Wolves or if his comeback will be delayed until the New Year.
AFCON Departures and Squad Depth Test
Compounding Amorim's selection headaches are the absences of three players on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations. Amad (Ivory Coast), Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), and Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) are all unavailable until at least late January, further stretching the squad's resources during a busy festive period.
The upcoming match against Wolves represents a quick turnaround and a significant test of United's squad depth. Having beaten Wolves 4-1 at Molineux earlier in December, Amorim will be desperate to have as many players back as possible to secure another three points and maintain momentum.
