Amorim Reveals When Bruno Fernandes Could Make His Comeback from Injury
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has revealed that club skipper Bruno Fernandes is anticipated to return from his injury layoff in late January.
Fernandes was forced off during the first half of United's 2–1 loss to Aston Villa prior to the Christmas break, with Amorim offering little reassurance by stating the Portuguese midfielder would require "some time" to heal properly.
The player promptly underwent extensive medical assessments to evaluate how serious the injury was, and although the findings from these tests haven't been publicly disclosed, numerous sources have indicated that the Manchester derby scheduled for Jan. 17 could mark Fernandes's comeback.
While Amorim refrained from providing an exact timeline for Fernandes's return in his most recent comments, he confirmed that United anticipate having the 31-year-old available during the latter part of January.
"Within three weeks, we should have Amad [Diallo], Nous [Mazraoui], Bryan [Mbeumo] and Bruno's comeback, plus Kobbie Mainoo," Amorim stated.
Amorim: Fernandes Cannot Be Replaced
Manchester United supporters will witness Amorim's strategy for managing without Fernandes when the Red Devils take on Newcastle United this Friday night.
When pressed for details about his approach, Amorim emphasized that there's no simple solution to playing without Fernandes, urging the entire United roster to elevate their performance during his absence.
"Bruno cannot be replaced, and I made that clear to the squad this morning," Amorim explained. "I believe we must find the positive aspect, if one exists, which is that many players must raise their game.
"It's not only about creativity but also every dead ball situation - Bruno is the player who coordinates the team. This presents a valuable chance for everyone to step forward and realize we cannot depend on a single player for everything.
"Often we lean on Bruno for organization and creative play. Now we've lost Bruno for set pieces. We've also lost Bryan and Amad for dead ball situations. This is significant for the squad, but it creates an opening for other players to demonstrate leadership qualities we require in the team."