Manchester United will be without captain Bruno Fernandes for Tuesday’s Premier League game against Wolves, despite the midfielder’s request to resume training just a week after sustaining a hamstring injury. Head coach Ruben Amorim is also closely monitoring Mason Mount’s condition after he was sent off during the Boxing Day win over Newcastle.
The Red Devils chose not to risk Mount with Amorim already struggling on the long-term injured list after he reported feeling uncomfortable against the Magpies. Nousser Mazraoui, Amad and Brian Mbeumo have represented the country at the African Cup of Nations. Central defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire remain sidelined, with Koby Mainu also unavailable for Wolves’ trip to Old Trafford.
“I don’t know how Mase will do in that match,” Amorim admitted. “I don’t think Koby Mainu will be ready. I don’t think Bruno will be ready. I don’t think Matt will be ready. I don’t think Harry will be ready. So I don’t think we’ll add any more players.”
Fernandes is expected to be sidelined for several weeks with a minor hamstring problem, but Amorim revealed the Portugal star is already pressing for a return to training sessions at Carrington.
Mainu is due to return to first-team preparations this week and could be available for Sunday’s game against Leeds, but De Ligt and Maguire face long-term care.
“Bruno has already said that he needs to train, but we don’t know,” Amorim added. “There’s no chance he’ll play against Wolves, no chance.”
“Koby Mainu is also going to start on the (training) pitch, so we’ll see. Matthijs is struggling a little bit. So is Harry.”
Fernandes was at Old Trafford on Boxing Day to witness United’s victory over Newcastle, whose league win streak ended at six with the 31-year-old missing from the squad.
Lisandro Martinez wore the captain’s armband in his absence, but United head coach Amorim stressed that Fernandes’ influence goes beyond the pitch. He praised the Portuguese star’s unwavering support for his team-mates during the injury period, and also noted that Fernandes was observing training sessions after completing treatment at Carrington.
“He talks all the time, that’s why he’s the captain,” Amorim explained. “He has some bad things sometimes, like the way he moves his arms, but he also has a lot of good things.
“In practice, every time he recovers, he’ll be watching the other guys practice that day. So there’s a lot of things you don’t see that he sees. He’s always been a great leader.”
“He’s a guy who still watches training after treatment. He goes there. I don’t know if he wants my job, but he’s a leader. He’s a leader.”
Wolves have lost 16 of 18 league games this season and are still looking for their first win. United won 4-1 at Molineux earlier this month, and the rematch is an opportunity for United to end the year on a positive note.
