Manchester United's initial diagnosis indicates Bruno Fernandes will be sidelined for 5 weeks, missing clashes against Manchester City and Arsenal! Amrabat holds meeting to devise strategy

British reports reveal that early scan results show Bruno Fernandes could be out for 5 weeks. This implies a March comeback, causing him to miss Premier League battles with Manchester City and Arsenal. Should he heal earlier, he might still feature against Arsenal, but other games are probably off limits.

During the first half against Aston Villa, Bruno Fernandes felt discomfort in the right thigh tendon. He managed to play until halftime before being substituted by Lisandro Martínez. This marks Fernandes’ first major injury since joining in January 2020. Data shows he has played 212 out of 221 Premier League matches for United, starting 208 times.

This injury could cause Fernandes to miss nearly as many games as he has previously played. He is expected to be absent for seven matches: December 26 home vs Newcastle, December 30 home vs Wolves, January 4 away at Leeds, January 7 away at Burnley, January 17 home vs Manchester City, January 25 home vs Arsenal in the league, plus the FA Cup third round home against Brighton on January 11.

The bad news for Amrabat is that in the six Premier League matches Fernandes missed previously, Manchester United lost five, including the last four consecutive defeats. Although Fernandes has some flaws criticized by fans and media, the current Red Devils clearly depend on him, a fact likely to be proven in upcoming games.

For the remaining two matches this year, Amrabat can only choose to replace Fernandes with either Ugarte or Lisandro Martínez, as Cody Gakpo is also sidelined for weeks due to a calf injury. Other options include 18-year-old Jack Fletcher or the £60 million signing Mason Mount, but both originally play in the number 10 role like Fernandes.

British media report that after a preliminary assessment of Fernandes’ injury, Manchester United held an internal meeting at Carrington training ground to discuss how to address the midfield shortage. Rumors suggest the club is considering signing a new midfielder, making strengthening the midfield a crucial task for the upcoming transfer window.

BBC reported that the captain’s injury may force Amrabat to adjust his tactical system. Previously, British media had often predicted he would change formations, but it never happened. Since taking charge, Amrabat has consistently tried to implement his favored 3-4-3 system, rarely deviating from this approach. He demands players adapt to him rather than altering his style to fit the squad.

Amrabat sticks to the 3-4-3 formation without relying on possession dominance, though he has made tweaks such as switching from short passes to long balls and contesting second balls to suit United’s current players. He wants midfielders who can both attack and defend with high stamina, which is why Fernandes and Casemiro are his first choices. Gakpo’s lack of running and Ugarte’s weak offense prevent them from executing his tactics effectively.

If a replacement must be found, Ugarte or Lima are the likeliest substitutes for Casemiro, tasked with shielding the defense; while Mount and Gakpo possess qualities needed to fulfill Fernandes’ role. Another option for Amrabat is to modify his tactical setup, something he has not done since becoming manager, although he has repeatedly claimed willingness to switch to a back four.

British media believe that if Amrabat opts to shift Manchester United to a four-defender and three-midfielder formation, the beneficiaries would not only be Gakpo but the entire team as well.