Manchester United's difficult festive period has been compounded by a significant injury to captain Bruno Fernandes, casting a shadow over their upcoming fixtures.
Injury Strikes During Villa Park Defeat
The Portuguese midfielder was forced off at half-time during Manchester United's 2-1 away loss to Aston Villa after sustaining a hamstring problem. The match saw Morgan Rogers score a spectacular double for Unai Emery's side, securing a victory that moves Villa to within three points of league leaders Arsenal.
This result marked only Villa's second win in 27 Premier League home games against the Red Devils, highlighting the rarity of the defeat for Ruben Amorim's team.
Amorim's Concerning Update on Key Duo
Speaking after the match, United boss Ruben Amorim delivered a worrying assessment, indicating that Fernandes is likely to "lose some games" due to the soft tissue injury. The manager expressed particular concern given the player's remarkable fitness record; since arriving at Old Trafford in 2020, Fernandes has missed just 17 games in five years.
Amorim also confirmed that young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is expected to miss the Boxing Day fixture against Newcastle United after suffering a calf injury. "I think Kobbie Mainoo is out, Bruno is out. We will see," stated the manager. He added, "It's a soft tissue, I think he's going to lose some games, I don't know for sure. Let's see. He is a guy who is always fit so he might recover quite well."
Injury Crisis Forces Academy Promotions
The situation is further strained by the impending departure of players for the Africa Cup of Nations, with Noussair Mazraoui, Amad, and Bryan Mbeumo set to be unavailable. This prompted Amorim to hand senior debuts to academy graduates Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey in the second half against Villa.
Amorim addressed the wider injury crisis, calling it "really strange" and noting the challenges of this period. "During this year, especially at this time, we have so many problems, but we have to cope with that," he explained. The manager emphasised his commitment to integrating youth, stating, "Every manager wants to bring players through from the academy... I'm just trying to help the club, it doesn't matter if it's from the academy or abroad."
Manchester United now face a crucial run of games without key personnel. They host Newcastle on Boxing Day, followed by a home match against Wolves four days later. Their first fixture of 2026 is an away trip to Leeds.
