Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has suggested that he will consider resting captain and star player Bruno Fernandes for Sunday’s Premier League showdown with Newcastle United.
The Red Devils will head to St James’ Park off the back of a 2-2 draw with Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
Fernandes appeared to have provided the assist for the winning goal on Thursday night, as his glorious cross was nodded into the back of the net by Joshua Zirkzee, with Man United on the verge of securing a first-leg advantage.
However, Lyon had other plans, with Rayan Cherki picking out the bottom corner after Man United goalkeeper Andre Onana failed to properly deal with what was a straightforward effort from Georges Mikautadze.
The Europa League is incredibly important for the Red Devils this season, as it provides a route into the Champions League next term, which will not be on offer for the club via the Premier League.
A disastrous domestic campaign has left the 20-time English champions down in 13th spot in the Premier League table, 15 points off fifth-placed Newcastle, who are in a strong position to secure a spot at the top table for next term.
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Amorim hints at changes against Newcastle
Following Thursday’s 2-2 draw with Lyon, Amorim was quizzed on possibly resting Fernandes, with the Portugal international again putting in an energy-zapping performance, and he will also be required to do the same in the second leg against Lyon next week.
“It’s an evaluation,” Amorim told reporters. “We’ll make this evaluation with all the staff, with all the data that we have, and then because we know already the players, we will try to protect the ones that it will be hard to make a lot of games.
“But Bruno Fernandes is playing all the time and he’s playing better all the time. Sometimes, this kind of player has to play in every match. But we will address that in these days that we have to prepare.”
Fernandes has been in excellent form for the Red Devils during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring 16 goals and registering 18 assists in 47 appearances in all competitions, including four goals and four assists in 10 Europa League outings.
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Man United again set to be missing six players against Newcastle
Amorim also revealed that he is not expecting to have Matthijs de Ligt or Toby Collyer back against Newcastle, while Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans, Ayden Heaven and Amad Diallo remain unavailable for selection.
However, Chibo Obi is back in contention, while Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw are all now fit following recent issues.
“No, I think it’s the same,” said the manager when asked whether any players could return at St James’ Park.
“There’s a great responsibility. We don’t have a team that is really big to do that [rotate], and then we have some players that I know that cannot make 90 minutes in this moment still.
“We have be careful, so we will try to address all these subjects in the game against Newcastle. But we have a great responsibility when we play any game, so I will try to look at that. That is for sure. But we have to face Newcastle with a team that we can be competitive, and to win the game.”
Man United have only lost one of their last six Premier League matches, which came away to Nottingham Forest at the start of the month.
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