MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim was optimistic about the injuries to Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo, although he confirmed that both midfielders will miss Friday’s Premier League match against Newcastle.
Fernandes clutched his thigh and suffered a soft tissue injury in United’s defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday, after which Amorim initially said he feared his captain would be out “for a while”.
However, ahead of Boxing Day’s only Premier League game, Amorim softened his opinion on the severity of Fernandes’ injury and also the calf problem suffered by Mainoo, who missed the game against Villa.
“Not for this game,” Amorim said on Wednesday about the possibility of either player being available to face Newcastle at Old Trafford.
“They’re recovering. I don’t think that’s going to take long. I think Kobbie will be back quicker than Bruno.”
Asked about Fernandes’ time away, Amorim added: “I don’t want to say, I have an idea but let’s see.”
The 31-year-old Portuguese midfielder has started every Premier League match this season and has been the most creative player in the league this campaign, creating 51 chances. Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku is his closest rival on under 40. United have lost six and drawn one of the last seven games in which Fernandes has not started.
“We need to take the good — if there is any good in that — that a lot of people need to step up and understand that we can’t depend on one player for everything,” Amorim said.
“I am confident that we can win any game,” he added.
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