In a dramatic late-afternoon twist in the English Premier League on Sunday, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was forced off with an injury in the club’s 2–1 defeat at Aston Villa, a blow that could see the talismanic midfielder sidelined through a crucial period of the season.
Fernandes, pivotal to United’s recent resurgence and leading creative force, pulled up in obvious discomfort late in the first half and was substituted at halftime, unable to continue. The injury came at a moment when United were pushing for a resurgence in the league, only to fall to a disappointing defeat at Villa Park.
What Happened at Aston Villa?
United’s clash with Aston Villa had already been tense, with Villa taking the lead just before halftime through Morgan Rogers and United levelling through Matheus Cunha. However, the game’s tone shifted dramatically when Fernandes, after visibly slowing and grabbing at the back of his leg, was withdrawn before the second half.
The midfielder had tried to play through what appeared to be a right hamstring issue, but pain clearly curtailed his involvement, forcing manager Rúben Amorim to deploy Lisandro Martínez in his place at the interval.
Manager’s Reaction: “It’s Going to Be a While”
Speaking shortly after the match, manager Rúben Amorim confirmed that Fernandes suffered a “soft tissue” injury — a term in football often used for hamstring or related muscle issues. Amorim said the skipper would miss “a while” and that the club expected him to miss upcoming fixtures, including United’s Boxing Day clash against Newcastle United.
Amorim admitted there is uncertainty around the exact duration of his absence but strongly suggested that Fernandes would be unavailable for several key games over the holiday period. “It’s soft tissue, so it’s going to take a while. We’ll see,” Amorim told reporters.
The United boss also stressed the team must cope with the setback, highlighting that other first-team players are also unavailable due to injuries or international duty commitments.
