Manchester United have been dealt a significant blow at a crucial stage of the season, with captain Bruno Fernandes opening up emotionally about the severity of the injury he sustained against Aston Villa.
The midfielder has revealed that the outcome of a medical scan left him deeply shaken, admitting that what the doctor told him brought him to tears.
“I know I’m a strong guy,” Fernandes reportedly said, “but what the doctor explained to me after the scan yesterday made me break down.
This is not something you expect to hear, especially at such an important point in the season.”
The Portuguese playmaker was forced off during United’s 2–1 defeat at Villa Park after clutching his hamstring late in the first half. He was unable to continue and was substituted at the interval.
Head coach Ruben Amorim later confirmed that the issue was a soft-tissue muscle injury, immediately raising concerns over Fernandes’ availability during a demanding festive period.
Fernandes’ setback has been compounded by the absence of fellow midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who picked up a calf injury during training on the eve of the Villa match and was ruled out of the squad entirely.
As a result, United are facing a midfield crisis ahead of their Boxing Day clash with Newcastle United, with resources already stretched thin.
Both Fernandes and Mainoo are expected to miss that fixture, leaving Amorim with limited senior options.
Casemiro will return after serving a suspension, but beyond him, the only other recognised central midfielder available is Manuel Ugarte, who has struggled for form and confidence in recent weeks.
During the Villa game, Amorim was forced to improvise, introducing Lisandro Martinez into midfield and handing academy graduate Jack Fletcher his senior debut from the bench.
Despite the mounting difficulties, Amorim has been clear that he will not use injuries as an excuse for poor results. Speaking after the match, he struck a defiant tone.
“It’s a soft tissue injury, so I think Bruno will miss some games, but we don’t know exactly how many,” Amorim explained.
“He’s a player who is usually very fit, so he may recover faster than expected. Kobbie is likely out as well, but we will find solutions. No excuses. We need to win the next game.”
The United boss also addressed speculation that Fernandes’ injury could force the club into rushed transfer activity in January.
Amorim was adamant that United will not abandon their long-term recruitment strategy in response to short-term problems.
United are believed to be targeting Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo when the transfer window opens, but Amorim suggested that any move for a midfielder would more likely wait until the summer.
“What we cannot do is reach January and panic, trying to fix everything at once,” Amorim said. “That’s how mistakes happen, and we’ve seen that before.
I’m not going to sit down with Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada and demand emergency signings just because of injuries.”
He stressed that maintaining a clear vision remains the priority, even if it means enduring short-term discomfort.
“If we have to suffer, the club comes first,” Amorim added. “Yes, we need points right now, and yes, this is a difficult moment.
But we must stay calm, find solutions within the squad, and continue with our plan. We may struggle, but we’ll see.”
For Fernandes, the coming weeks will be a test of patience and resilience. For United, the challenge will be navigating a demanding run of fixtures without their captain and midfield leader while staying true to a long-term rebuild that Amorim is determined not to derail.
