Manchester United are likely to be without captain Bruno Fernandes for their Boxing Day clash with Newcastle United.
Undoubtedly the most consistent Manchester United player in the past four seasons, Fernandes might have to sit out of the clash against Newcastle due to an hamstring injury.
Fernandes hobble off in United’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday. The midfielder appeared to tweak his hamstring shortly before the break.
Fernandes soldiered on for the remainder of the half before being withdrawn at the interval. Speaking post-match, Man United boss Ruben Amorim confirmed he expects Fernandes to be out of action.
Bruno Fernandes is challenged by Boubacar Kamara during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Manchester United (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
“It is soft tissue,” Amorim told reporters. “It is going to take a while. We have to cope. We will find solutions. He’s a guy that is always fit, so we can recover quite well. But I don’t know.”
Newcastle who played out a 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Saturday will make the tricky trip to Old Trafford on Friday – the only round of Premier League fixtures on December 26 this year.
This will be the fourth Boxing Day meeting between the two clubs in 13 years. Old Trafford was an unhappy hunting ground for the Magpies until recently.
Newcastle have won two, drawn one and lost one of their last four visits to Man United.
As well as Fernandes, Ruben Amorim is also set to be without Bryan Mbeumo (AFCON), Amad Diallo (AFCON), Noussair Mazraoui (AFCON), Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire.
