Ruben Amorim is preparing Manchester United for a run without captain Bruno Fernandes, admitting the hamstring injury removes a key influence but also creates space for new leaders to emerge in the squad during a demanding period of the Premier League season.
Fernandes came off injured during the 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, and Amorim expects the midfielder to be out for several weeks. Reports indicate Fernandes could miss five matches before a possible return for the Manchester derby against Manchester City on 17 January at Old Trafford.
The absence arrives as Manchester United get ready to host Newcastle United in the only Premier League fixture scheduled on Boxing Day. The match places added pressure on Amorim, as Fernandes has been central to United’s
attacking play and overall structure throughout the current campaign.
Fernandes leads all Manchester United players in Premier League goal involvements this season with 12 contributions, made up of five goals and seven assists. No team-mate is within five direct league goal contributions of that total, underlining how central Fernandes has been in the final third.
Across the entire division, Fernandes also tops the rankings for chances created, with 51 opportunities fashioned for team-mates. That creative output highlights the scale of the tactical gap Amorim must cover while also ensuring the wider group maintain confidence ahead of an intense winter schedule.
Manchester United’s record without Fernandes since the beginning of the 2022-23 Premier League season underlines that concern. In seven league fixtures where Fernandes did not start, United failed to win, losing six games and drawing one, while scoring only four goals during that sequence.
Asked whether he could give a clear estimate for Fernandes’ recovery, Amorim chose not to define a public timescale. Amorim said: "I don't want to say. I have an idea, of course. " The comments reflect a desire to manage expectations while keeping opponents uncertain about United’s medium-term plans.
During the defeat at Villa Park, Amorim turned to Lisandro Martinez to fill the vacant role, even though Martinez is a natural centre-back. The change highlighted how important Fernandes is not only in possession but also for structure, with Amorim stressing that Manchester United lose far more than creativity.
Amorim explained to the squad that the coming weeks must be treated as a test of responsibility. "It's impossible to replace Bruno, but I said that this morning to the team, Amorim said. We need to take the good thing, if there is a good thing with this, and a lot of people need to step up. It's not just the chance creation. On every set-piece, he is the guy organising the team and that is a good opportunity for everyone to step up and realise we can't rely on one player for everything. Sometimes we rely on Bruno for the organisation and creation. We lost Bruno, Bryan [Mbeumo] and Amad [Diallo] in set-pieces, so this is massive for the team, but it's an opportunity for other players to step up and show the leadership we need. He understands every position on the field. He pays attention to detail. Before a set-piece, if there is a substitution, he's the one telling the guys where they should be. But this is a good chance for Licha [Martinez], Luke Shaw, for all of these guys, to step up and have more leaders in the group. It's a big opportunity for the other guys. "
Those remarks underline how Amorim views the period as a test for figures such as Martinez and Luke Shaw, as well as others in the dressing room. While Fernandes remains central to Manchester United’s long-term plans, Amorim is challenging the wider squad to handle key moments until the captain returns.
