Manchester United suffered a major setback on and off the pitch after captain Bruno Fernandes was forced off with a hamstring injury during their 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday night. The Portuguese midfielder was substituted within the first 45 minutes after pulling up while chasing a loose ball, raising immediate concerns among United fans and staff.
Fernandes, who has been one of United’s most reliable performers this season, looked visibly uncomfortable before signalling to the bench. Medical staff quickly attended to him, and the decision was made not to take any risks, with the United skipper replaced before half-time.
United went into the break level, but Aston Villa grew in confidence after the restart and capitalised on United’s lack of creativity without Fernandes pulling the strings. The hosts eventually secured a 2-1 victory, dealing another blow to United’s inconsistent campaign and denting their hopes of building momentum.
Post-match reports suggest Fernandes will undergo further tests to determine the severity of the injury. Early indications from inside the club are that the midfielder could be sidelined for a while, with some assessments hinting at a potential absence of up to a month, depending on scan results. Manager Rúben Amorim later confirmed that the problem is a hamstring issue and admitted the club will need to manage without their captain for some time.
