Bruno Fernandes will miss Manchester United's Premier League clash with Newcastle United on December 26 due to a soft tissue injury, manager Ruben Amorim has confirmed. The club captain sustained the issue during the recent defeat to Aston Villa.
Amorim declined to specify a return date for Fernandes, though he indicated he has an idea of the timeline. 'I don't want to say. I have an idea, of course, but let's see,' he told reporters.
Kobbie Mainoo is also sidelined for the Newcastle game, but Amorim expects the midfielder to return faster than Fernandes. Defenders Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt remain unavailable with hamstring and back complaints respectively.
Amorim acknowledged the difficulty of replacing Fernandes' influence. 'It is impossible to replace Bruno... but it is an opportunity for other players to step up,' he said. The manager praised Jack Fletcher's recent performance as an example of how the squad can adapt.
