Amorim Breaks Silence on Bruno Fernandes Injury Scare
Manchester United don't anticipate being without skipper Bruno Fernandes for an extended period after Ruben Amorim dismissed injury worries regarding the key midfielder.
Fernandes was credited with assists for both United's goals in their 2-1 turnaround victory against Crystal Palace on Sunday, providing the set-piece delivery that led to Joshua Zirkzee's equalizer and subsequently setting up Mason Mount for the winner.
During the second half, there was an instance where he seemed to pick up a minor injury, though the Portuguese star still played the entire 90 minutes for the 11th occasion in 13 Premier League matches this campaign.
Fernandes remains one of those predictable "automatic selections" for Amorim, and this status appears likely to persist as the feared injury seems to be nothing serious.
"It was just a knock. I was calling out to him because he should communicate with the sideline, but he confirmed it was only a kick, so all is well," Amorim told TNT Sports following the match.
All indications suggest Fernandes will feature in the starting lineup as usual when the Red Devils welcome West Ham United in Thursday evening's Premier League fixture.
Bruno Fernandes's Modified Role in 2025–26
Given Amorim's apparent hesitation to rely on players like Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo, Fernandes has been tasked with playing a more traditional central midfield role, positioned deeper than the attacking midfielder role he was previously recognized for.
This shift means his contribution differs and isn't necessarily reflected in the goal and assist statistics that characterized his initial five seasons at Manchester—he has just two goals in all competitions (with no European matches included), and is trending toward his lowest-scoring campaign in United colors, which previously stood at 10 in 2021–22.
The midfielder has maintained a measured stance when questioned about his repositioned role.
"I enjoy playing football, whatever the position may be, I'll give my maximum effort," Fernandes stated during Portugal duty in October. "Everyone has preferred positions. In an environment with abundant talent, adaptation is necessary. I occupied these roles under Jorge Jesus at Sporting CP.
"When positioned higher up the pitch, you discover more room to operate, with reduced risk. When I function [as the No. 10], the objective is creating opportunities and scoring. I adjust to the team's approach. Victory is paramount, and I aim to perform at my highest level."