Why Bruno Fernandes missed Manchester United training before Liverpool showdown | OneFootball

Amad Diallo, Casemiro and Matheus Cunha were also not involved at Carrington as preparations ramp up for Anfield trip

Bruno Fernandes was among a raft of high-profile absentees from training on Thursday as Manchester United prepare for their trip to Liverpool.

Amorim looks to have a relatively clean bill of health for this weekend’s trip along the M62, though a potential return for Noussair Mazraoui could be in doubt after he missed training on Thursday having been dealing with an unspecified knock and not featured since the win over Chelsea on September 20.

Mazraoui reported to the Morocco camp last week ahead of their games against Bahrain and Congo, but did not play in either match.

Lisandro Martinez was also not involved at Carrington despite recent reports that he was aiming to resume full training this week with an eye on making his return to match action against either Brighton or Nottingham Forest following surgery on an anterior cruciate ligament injury that has kept him out since February.

Fernandes was the most glaring absentee from United training on Thursday, but his absence was reportedly as the result of being afforded extra time off following his international exertions with Portugal, for whom he started both recent World Cup qualifiers against the Republic of Ireland and Hungary.

Also given an extra day off was Amad Diallo, who started and scored for Ivory Coast as they clinched their World Cup place with a win over Kenya on Tuesday, having been an unused substitute against the Seychelles.

It was the same treatment for Casemiro and Matheus Cunha, who both played for Brazil in each of their recent friendlies against South Korea and Japan.

United said those given time off included internationals and players who had trained throughout the break, listing Amad and Casemiro as examples.

The club also confirmed that eight youngsters had been training with the first team on Thursday in Jacob Devaney, Tyler Fletcher, Shea Lacey, Sam Mather, Bendito Mantato, Reece Munro, Chido Obi and Jim Thwaites.

It is not known if Ayden Heaven was involved after being forced off injured at half-time while playing for the England Under-20s against Switzerland at St George’s Park last week.

Amorim will offer a full team news update in his pre-Liverpool press conference at Carrington on Friday, with Liverpool counterpart Slot to do the same amid injury concerns over Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch, Alisson Becker and Wataru Endo.