As Manchester United prepare for Boxing Day without injured captain Bruno Fernandes, head coach Ruben Amorim has called on his squad to step up and show leadership. The playmaker's extended soft-tissue injury absence—building on the initial report from the Aston Villa defeat—forces reliance on squad depth amid other injuries and international call-ups.
In the ongoing Bruno Fernandes injury series, Amorim emphasized the captain's irreplaceable role after the midfielder's half-time withdrawal in Sunday's loss to Aston Villa. At 31, Fernandes is set for a prolonged absence, only his second extended spell out in nearly six years at United.
The stakes are high: United have lost their last four league games without him, failing to score in three—including a goalless defeat to Newcastle last December with just one shot on target. "It’s impossible to replace Bruno … we need more leaders," Amorim told the team, stressing collective gains in areas like set-piece organization where Fernandes leads.
Other issues persist: Kobbie Mainoo (calf), Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo (AFCON with Cameroon and Ivory Coast). Amorim eyes opportunities for Lisandro Martínez, Luke Shaw, and 18-year-old debutant Jack Fletcher (son of ex-United midfielder Darren Fletcher), who shone off the bench at Villa Park.
Tactics may shift with Matheus Cunha (2 goals, 1 assist in last three games) in the No. 10 role, Mason Mount offering forward surges in midfield, and Casemiro returning from suspension. Martínez should anchor defense. Despite the blow, Amorim is upbeat: "This is a big opportunity for the other guys."
Old Trafford hosts the Premier League's only Boxing Day fixture against Newcastle, testing United's resolve in the festive crunch.
