Manchester United returns to action on Boxing Day at Old Trafford, facing Newcastle in hopes of recording a victory at home for the first time since October. Ruben Amorim’s side will be without their captain
Bruno Fernandes after sustaining an injury in a defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday, and the manager offered updates on the rest of the squad ahead of their next league meeting as well
The prospect of playing for an extended period without the captain and driving force in midfield is a worrying one, but the manager offered another perspective on the matter. He focused on the need to figure out answers without relying on the regular talisman.
“I think it’s impossible to replace Bruno, but I say that in this morning to the team. I think we need to take the good thing, if there is a good thing on that a lot of people need to step up,” Amorim said in his Wednesday press conference. “And if you see, it’s not just the creation, but every set piece, he’s the guy that is organising sometimes the team. And that is a good opportunity for everyone to step up and to understand that we cannot rely on one player for everything. And sometimes we rely on Bruno in the organisation, in the creation.
“We lost Bruno on set pieces. We lost Bryan [Mbeumo] and Amad on set pieces. So, this is massive for the team, but it’s an opportunity for other players to step up and to show the leadership that we need in the team.”
The Reds will be without Kobbie Mainoo again this week, who suffered an untimely injury in training the day before traveling to Villa. Amorim suggested that he would return much sooner than Bruno, but would still miss the clash with Newcastle.
United’s first taste of action without AFCON stars Mbeumo and Amad didn’t go so well, but Matheus Cunha stepped up as more of a centerpiece in the attack. Amorim also looks forward to seeing more from first team newcomers Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey, who made their Premier League debuts at Villa Park.
“The behaviour that they have showed during these weeks are really good,” Amorim said of the youngsters. “But I don’t have that feeling that they were a little bit different because, ‘I played for Manchester United’. No, they are really focused and they are preparing the game, and they believe that they can play. That is a good feeling. So, nothing different that I saw in the last few weeks.”
Harry Maguire and Matthijs De Ligt will both remain sidelined, Amorim confirmed to the media, but Lisandro Martinez continued his return to the pitch with a midfield cameo alongside Manuel Ugarte. The Argentine defender held his own before moving into the back three for the final stages of the match, but could be an option to help bolster the back line with Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven struggling to form a consistent unit with Luke Shaw.
