Manchester United will be forced to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday night without their influential captain and chief playmaker, Bruno Fernandes.
Injury Blow Confirmed for Midweek Clash
The Portuguese midfielder is not expected to feature in the Premier League fixture at Old Trafford, dealing a significant setback to manager Ruben Amorim's plans. Fernandes has been sidelined since sustaining an injury just before Christmas, limping off at half-time during the narrow defeat to Aston Villa.
His absence continued through the Boxing Day victory over Newcastle United, and the visit of Wolves has proven too soon for a comeback. This is a particular frustration given his stellar performance in the reverse fixture just weeks ago, where he scored twice in a comfortable 4-1 win at Molineux.
Amorim's Update and Leadership Praise
Speaking ahead of the match, Amorim left no room for doubt regarding his skipper's availability. "No chance he's going to play against Wolves. No chance," the United boss stated firmly during his pre-match press conference.
While acknowledging the player's eagerness to return, Amorim indicated a return timeframe of early January. He also took the opportunity to highlight Fernandes's invaluable leadership qualities, which remain present even from the sidelines.
"He's the guy that is watching training even after treatment," Amorim said. "He's a great leader all the time... He's always speaking. That's why he's the captain."
Fantasy Premier League Impact and Deadlines
Fernandes's continued absence is a major blow for Fantasy Premier League managers across the country. The midfielder, valued at £9.2 million, is joint-top for points among midfielders alongside Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo.
The busy festive schedule brings two game weeks in quick succession. For Game Week 19, which includes Tuesday's matches, the FPL transfer deadline is set for 6pm GMT on Tuesday, December 30. This is approximately two hours before Manchester United kick off against Wolves.
Managers must then prepare for Game Week 20, which has a deadline of 11am GMT on Saturday, January 3.
United will now need to find a way to overcome the rock-bottom Midlands side without their creative talisman, as they aim to secure another three points at Old Trafford.
