Darren Fletcher on 'disappointing' Bruno Fernandes sub as Manchester United star leaves Burnley draw early | OneFootball

The skipper was withdrawn shortly before his side conceded for the second time

Darren Fletcher has revealed that he “didn’t want” to substitute Bruno Fernandes during his side’s 2-2 draw with Burnley, but said he needed to because of the Manchester United captain’s recent injury woes.

Former head coach Ruben Amorim initially said Fernandes would be out for “a while” thanks to the soft tissue injury, without putting an exact timeframe on his return, and he subsequentially missed the following three matches.

There were suggestions after the disappointing stalemate against Leeds last Sunday that United’s influential skipper was closing in on a return to fitness, and following Amorim’s dismissal Fletcher confirmed in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday that Fernandes was in contention to make the matchday squad against Burnley.

He did so, and was even named as the lone No10 in United’s starting XI while fellow returning first-teamers like Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire had to settle for a place on the bench.

Fernandes was, typically, heavily involved in much of his side’s good work going forward, providing the assist for Benjamin Sesko’s equaliser with a well-timed through ball before lashing an effort of his own against the woodwork minutes later.

But, with the game still very much in the balance, the 31-year-old was replaced by Mount just moments after Sesko had put United ahead.

The move caused some uproar on social media among the club’s fans, who bemoaned the decision to remove such an important player, and Burnley indeed found a decisive leveller only five minutes after his withdrawal.

However, speaking to reporters after full-time, interim boss Fletcher confirmed that Fernandes being substituted after the hour mark was the plan of United’s medical staff to ensure the midfielder did not aggravate his hamstring injury.

“It was planned before the game, we discussed it,” he said. “45 minutes was mentioned, 60 minutes, and I think we had agreed that 60 was probably a push.”

Fletcher admitted: “I didn’t want to take Bruno Fernandes off in that game, but that was the plan from the club, from the medical [staff], from the coaches.

“Bruno had an injury, that we have to respect, and it’s a long season as well.

“So, it’s disappointing, but that was the plan before the game and we knew that was going to happen.”