How Can Man Utd Fill the...

Manchester United is currently assessing the severity of the injury captain Bruno Fernandes suffered during their 2-1 loss to Aston Villa.

Manager Ruben Amorim believes the midfielder may face some time on the sidelines, although he hopes the injury is not too serious. Fernandes experienced discomfort in his hamstring towards the end of the first half, yet he continued playing until the halftime break.

His potential absence is significant due to the Portuguese playmaker’s impressive record of availability since joining from Sporting in January 2020.

Since his debut in a scoreless draw against Wolves, United has played 221 Premier League matches, and Fernandes has participated in 212, starting in 208 of them.

Of the nine matches he has missed, two were due to resting ahead of important European fixtures, including a critical defeat at Brentford last May.

Four were caused by suspensions, leaving only three matches missed because of injury or illness.

His longest absence occurred at the close of the 2023-24 season, where he missed two consecutive games, although he managed to return in time for the FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City.

A worrying trend for Amorim is that United has lost the last four league games that Fernandes did not play, and five of the last six.

While the duration of his absence remains unclear, here are United’s next seven fixtures:

26 December (20:00 GMT) vs Newcastle (h)
30 December (20:15 GMT) vs Wolves (h)
4 January (12:30 GMT) vs Leeds (a)
7 January (20:15 GMT) vs Burnley (a)
11 January (16:30 GMT) vs Brighton (h) – FA Cup third round
17 January (12:30 GMT) vs Man City (h)
25 January (16:30 GMT) vs Arsenal (a)

What are Amorim’s options if his star player is sidelined?

Kobbie Mainoo

Amorim has emphasized all season that Mainoo is in direct competition with Fernandes due to their similar playing styles. This could be an opportunity for the 20-year-old to prove his worth to the manager.

Unfortunately, Amorim indicated that Mainoo missed the loss at Villa due to a calf issue and is unlikely to be ready for the match against Newcastle.

There have been conspiracy theories suggesting Mainoo’s absence was influenced by a “Free Kobbie Mainoo” T-shirt worn by his half-brother during the dramatic 4-4 draw against Bournemouth.

However, this perspective overlooks Amorim’s acknowledgment that similar actions from his own brother in the past caused him to apologize and distance himself from the incident.

Amorim has not disclosed the expected duration of Mainoo’s absence.

Manuel Ugarte or Lisandro Martinez

Manuel Ugarte gestures to his Manchester United team-mates — Manuel Ugarte joined Manchester United from Paris St-Germain in August 2024 [Getty Images]

Assuming veteran midfielder Casemiro, 33, returns from suspension for the match against Newcastle, it is likely that Manuel Ugarte will partner him in a defensive role.

However, like Mainoo and Fernandes, Ugarte and Casemiro typically occupy similar positions on the field. The last time they featured together as starters in the league was during a 0-0 draw against Manchester City last April.

Another concerning statistic for the team is that United has not won any of the last nine league matches in which Ugarte started, a disappointing record only surpassed by Kleberson during his time at the club.

Lisandro Martinez replaced Fernandes at half-time in the match at Villa Park. Although primarily a defender, Amorim has previously mentioned he would only consider Martinez as a midfield option in an “emergency.” This situation likely fits that criteria, as Martinez was among Amorim’s most effective players during the Villa match.

Nonetheless, neither Ugarte nor Martinez naturally brings the creative flair needed in conjunction with Casemiro.

Mason Mount

When Mount transferred from Chelsea, Erik ten Hag viewed him as capable of functioning as a number eight.

He possesses creativity and, if played alongside Casemiro, could allow Joshua Zirkzee to excel in the number 10 role.

Amorim believes Mount performs best as a number 10, yet similar to Martinez, he may need to step into the midfield out of necessity.

Mount’s versatility is evident as he has also played as a wing-back, reflecting the admiration the United head coach has for his flexibility.

Another advantage is that Mount has regained form, netting goals against Crystal Palace and Wolves recently.

Jack Fletcher

Fletcher made his debut at Villa Park, showcasing the qualities Amorim requires. Like his father Darren, a former United and Scotland midfielder, Fletcher brings considerable energy to the field.

He also possesses a strong passing range and has shown significant progress in recent months.

However, placing the 18-year-old England youth international in a starting role for a Premier League game would be a considerable challenge.

Analysis: Fernandes’ injury may force Amorim to adjust tactics

Since his arrival, Amorim has aimed to establish a cohesive style at United, rarely deviating from his core philosophy.

His system-first approach mandates certain qualities from players in every position, requiring them to adapt to his vision rather than altering his system to accommodate them.

Focusing on his tactical preferences may provide insights into how he navigates the come weeks.

Amorim employs a 3-2-4-1 formation that does not rely heavily on ball possession.

Initially, Amorim sought shorter build-up plays; however, he has shifted to more long passes from the goalkeeper, aligning with the strengths of his squad. This strategy calls for players who can cover ground and win second balls.

His tactics also involve specific passing routines, frequently resulting in midfielders executing decisive passes for attackers making runs behind the defense.

Therefore, the midfield duo must be capable of fulfilling these demands.

Amorim’s favored combination of Casemiro and Fernandes offers clues to his expectations from midfielders.

Casemiro operates within a defined role, focusing on positional discipline, breaking up opposition play, and transitioning between defense and attack when necessary.

Conversely, Fernandes is given more freedom to contribute offensively, although he, too, has the stamina to return to defend when required.

Both players are adept at playing direct, low-touch passes into attackers sprinting into space, aligning with Amorim’s tactical framework.

Other midfield options must then adapt to either Casemiro’s or Fernandes’ roles, with Ugarte as the likely substitute for Casemiro, while Mount, Martinez, and Mainoo exhibit varying capabilities for Fernandes’ position.

Given the challenges posed by the Africa Cup of Nations and United’s injuries, Amorim might need to adjust his system.

This is not a common practice for him at Old Trafford, but he has hinted that a shift to four at the back could occur depending on circumstances, especially if the current shortage of wing-backs continues.

This deficiency in midfield personnel could similarly compel him to adapt.

Should United transitions to a four-man defense with a three-man midfield, Mainoo would likely benefit most from this change.

The young midfielder has struggled to secure a regular spot alongside either Casemiro or Fernandes due to the tactical demands placed on him by Amorim’s system. The manager believes Mainoo’s skill set aligns more favorably with a midfield trio.

“The issue is we are playing with two midfielders, but you all see Kobbie differently than I do,” he mentioned. “Perhaps a system with three midfielders would allow Kobbie more minutes.”

How Can Man Utd Fill the…