Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag is sweating over the fitness of captain Bruno Fernandes ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League showdown with Newcastle United at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese playmaker was on the cusp of returning from a wrist injury ahead of the weekend’s meeting with Arsenal, but he had to pull out at the last minute, having failed to sufficiently recover in time.
The same went for ankle victim Marcus Rashford, who was back on the practice pitches alongside Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez (calf) last week, but the latter is still being held back with the FA Cup final on the horizon.
All of Tyrell Malacia (knee), Victor Lindelof (thigh), Harry Maguire (muscle), Raphael Varane (muscle), Mason Mount (unspecified) and Luke Shaw (thigh) are out of contention too, while Anthony Martial (groin) and Amad Diallo (knee) require once-overs.
The latter made his first Premier League start of the season against Arsenal and impressed on the right flank before limping off in the second half, although he played down the seriousness of his concern on social media after the game.
Nevertheless, it would not be a shock to see Antony return to the attacking third with Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund, while the extended recuperation period will benefit Fernandes’s chances of coming back for Wednesday.
Scott McTominay could therefore drop back into a deeper midfield role alongside Kobbie Mainoo, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot remain the only available picks at full-back.
However, Willy Kambwala is now fit again and might join Jonny Evans and Andre Onana in the backline, thereby demoting Casemiro after his carelessness at the back led to Arsenal’s winner.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Kambwala, Evans, Dalot; McTominay, Mainoo; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund
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