Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim announced that midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo will miss the Premier League tie with Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, Afrosport reports.
Fernandes came off injured at half time in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa and is likely to miss up to a month of action with a hamstring problem.
Mainoo meanwhile was injured before the game in training the day before and was unable to make the match day squad at Villa Park.
Amorim also confirmed that central defence duo Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt remain out.
“They [Fernandes and Mainoo] are recovering. I don’t think it will take a lot of time. I think Kobbie will return faster than Bruno,” the Portuguese tactician said.
On Maguire and De Ligt, he said: “We are still working with them, they are not available for this one. Let’s see for the next one.”
The former Sporting Lisbon boss added on the need to adapt without Fernandes.
“It’s impossible to replace Bruno, but I said that this morning to the team,” he stated.
“We need to take the good thing, if there is a good thing. A lot of people need to step up. It’s a good opportunity for everyone to step up and understand that we cannot rely on one guy for everything.
“Sometimes we rely on him for organisation and creation. It’s a chance for other players to step up and show the leadership that we need in the team.”
Up next: Newcastle on Boxing Day 🥊 pic.twitter.com/jlRr0Y8NS5
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United are also without Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui, who are currently participating at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
