Manchester United double injury blow confirmed 48 hours ahead of Newcastle United clash
.jpg?width=96&crop=1:1,smart)
Newcastle United latest news: Ruben Amorim has confirmed that Bruno Fernandes will not feature against the Magpies.
Ruben Amorim has confirmed that Manchester United will be without both Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo for their clash with Newcastle United on Boxing Day.
Maino suffered a calf injury in training ahead of their defeat against Aston Villa at the weekend and was not included in Amorim’s matchday squad. Fernandes, meanwhile, was included in Amorim’s team, but was substituted at half-time after picking up a soft tissue injury in the first-half.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday morning ahead of the visit of Newcastle United, Amorim confirmed that neither player would feature on Friday night: “Not for this game.
“They are recovering. I don't think that is going to take a lot of time.
“I think Kobbie will return faster than Bruno. I don't want to say [return date], I have an idea but let's see.”
The Red Devils will also be without Harry Maguire and Matthijs De Ligt on Friday night through injury. Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo will also miss out due to their international commitments with Cameroon, Morocco and Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations.
Ruben Amorim discusses Bruno Fernandes absence
Whilst all of those absences will be hard felt by Manchester United, it will be Fernandes’ absence that will impact the Red Devils the most on Friday night. The Portuguese international is not just their captain, but so often the man they turn to to create goals and provide moments of magic.
The Gazette has launched a new WhatsApp NUFC channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone. Simply click this link to join our NUFC WhatsApp channel.
Asked what his team will lose by not having Fernandes in the starting XI, Amorim said: “Everything. Everything because he understands every position on the field.
“He pays attention to every detail. Every set piece when you have a substitution, he is always the guy who is telling the other guys where they should be.
“But that is a very good opportunity for guys like Licha [Lisandro Martinez], Luke Shaw, all these guys. We need to have more leaders to step up because this can happen to Bruno, it is not usual, but this can happen, so it is a big opportunity for the other guys.
He added: “It is impossible to replace Bruno but I say that this morning to the team, I think we need to take the good thing if there is a good thing on that, that a lot of people need to step up. It is not just the creation, it is every set piece he is the guy who is organising the team and that is a good opportunity for everyone to step up and understand that we can't rely on one player for everything.
“Sometimes we rely on Bruno in the organisation, in the creation. We lost Bruno in set pieces we lost Bryan (Mbeumo) in those set pieces so this is massive for the team but it is an opportunity for players to step up and to show the leadership we need in the team.”
Newcastle United, meanwhile, will be without Tino Livramento, Sven Botman, Emil Krafth, Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Will Osula on Friday night. Nick Pope and Joelinton remain doubts.