Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes sustained a hamstring injury during Sunday’s 2-1 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa. Left-back Diogo Dalot, who took the armband from Fernandes, called the setback “massive” for the club.
Fernandes was withdrawn at half-time on December 22, 2025. Manager Ruben Amorim confirmed the midfielder will miss United’s Boxing Day fixture against Newcastle and indicated he would be sidelined for “a while.”
Match Report
Manchester United lost 2-1 to Aston Villa at Old Trafford. Bruno Fernandes played only 45 minutes before his injury forced a substitution.
United’s midfield faced significant disruption in the second half. Manager Amorim deployed Lisandro Martínez, a centre-back returning from injury, alongside debutant Jack Fletcher in the central roles.
Performance Impact
Fernandes has been a key figure for United this season. He started every Premier League match, scoring 5 goals and providing 7 assists. His absence removes a significant creative and leadership element from the squad.
The injury compounds United’s existing player shortage. The club already had seven first-team players unavailable for the Villa match. Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, a natural replacement for Fernandes, also sustained a calf injury in training on Saturday, further depleting options.
“It’s massive.”
Dalot told Sky Sports regarding Fernandes’ injury.
Rob Dawson of ESPN stated that “chasing the game with a midfield partnership of Lisandro Martínez (a center back returning from injury) and Jack Fletcher (a debutant) isn’t easy, and Bruno’s absence in the coming games won’t help.”
Manager Reaction
Ruben Amorim addressed Fernandes’ injury in his post-match comments. He confirmed it was a soft tissue issue but offered limited detail on the exact recovery timeline.
“I don’t know. I think he’s in a soft issue. I think he’s going to lose some games. I don’t know for sure.”
Amorim said in his post-match press conference. He also stressed the need to find immediate solutions within the squad.
Amorim emphasized avoiding urgency in the January transfer window. He stated the team must “find solutions” and “deal with that” without waiting until the new year for all problem-solving.
Dalot also spoke about the opportunity for other players. He highlighted the chance for squad members who have seen fewer minutes to “step up now and show that they deserve more minutes.”
“We don’t know how bad it is but for him to come off (in) the game, we know how tough he is.”
Dalot told Sky Sports, underscoring Fernandes’ resilience.
What’s Next
Manchester United will face Newcastle United on Boxing Day, December 26, 2025, without Bruno Fernandes. The club’s depleted midfield will require tactical adjustments from Amorim.
The team will rely on remaining experienced players and academy prospects to fill the void. United will navigate a critical period of fixtures before the January transfer window opens.
Sagnik Banerjee 
Priyanjan Paul