Man United injury latest: Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and more | OneFootball

Manchester United injury update ahead of Wolves clash

Manchester United have won just two of their last five games and, as ever, the fixture list will not wait while the treatment room clears. The good news for Ruben Amorim is that a 1-0 win over Newcastle on Boxing Day bought him a little breathing space, and the next three opponents, Wolves, Leeds and Burnley, all sit 16th or lower. The less good news is that several key figures remain either injured or unavailable, which forces United to lean on depth, youth and a bit of improvisation.

With Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo away at the Africa Cup of Nations, the spotlight naturally falls on the players United cannot afford to lose at this point, namely Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo. In different ways, both have become central to how Man United want to play, Fernandes as the relentless organiser and chance maker, Mainoo as the calm connector who makes midfield look less frantic.

Bruno Fernandes absence leaves Man United searching for control

Fernandes has been sidelined since the hamstring injury picked up in the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa before Christmas. He missed the Newcastle match, which is only the third game he has missed through injury since arriving at Old Trafford, a reminder of just how often he drags United through difficult spells.

Amorim has tried to keep the timeline vague, but his comments underline the scale of the problem. He said last week: “They are recovering (Fernandes and Mainoo). I don’t think that it is going to take a lot of time. Kobbie is going to return faster than Bruno. I don’t want to say (how long for Bruno). I have an idea, of course, but let’s see.

“It is impossible to replace Bruno but I said that this morning to the team.”

For Man United, that is the crux. Replacing Fernandes on the team sheet is easy, replacing what he provides, the tempo, the risk taking, the leadership, is not. Potential return date: January 2026.

Kobbie Mainoo recovery could ease midfield pressure

Mainoo suffered a calf injury in training and missed both Aston Villa and Newcastle, unfortunate timing given he might have seen more minutes while Casemiro served a suspension. He is yet to start a Premier League game this season and has been linked with a January move away, which feels like noise rather than logic when you consider how much United need midfield balance.

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Amorim expects him back before Fernandes and repeated: “I don’t think that it is going to take a lot of time. Kobbie is going to return faster than Bruno.” Potential return date: December 30 vs Wolves (H) or January 4 vs Leeds United (A).

Mason Mount, de Ligt and Maguire boost defensive options

Mount was forced off against Newcastle after feeling something before the second half. Amorim explained: “He felt something at half-time. He wanted to go (on) and that is also a good thing.

“He wanted to go to the second half but we cannot lose more players, if you are not 100 per cent.” Potential return date: December 30 vs Wolves (H).

At the back, Matthijs de Ligt has missed weeks with a back injury, having last played on November 30 in the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. Amorim said: “I don’t know, sometimes you have an idea, then you have to see day by day. I’m not going to say when he is coming back.” Potential return date: December 30 vs Wolves (H) or January 4 vs Leeds United (A).

Harry Maguire has been out with a thigh issue since early November and Amorim added: “We are still working with them (Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt), they are not available for this one (Newcastle), but let’s see for the next one (Wolves).” Potential return date: December 30 vs Wolves (H) or January 4 vs Leeds United (A).