Four Man Utd players ruled out of Newcastle clash after Bruno Fernandes blow | Football

Four Manchester United players have been ruled out of the Boxing Day clash against Newcastle United.

Ruben Amorim’s side welcome Newcastle to Old Trafford on Friday night for the only Premier League game to be played on Boxing Day.

The Red Devils were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa last time out and suffered another blow during the defeat as influential capital Bruno Fernandes hobbled off with a muscular injury.

Fernandes is now expected to be ruled out for around a month, but he is not the only United player Amorim will be without over the festive period.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Amorim confirmed Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt were also out with injuries.

Fernandes’ absence could have been a chance for Mainoo to revive his Red Devils career but he missed Sunday’s defeat at Villa Park with a calf issue.

Key defenders Maguire and De Ligt have both been out for a few weeks and neither are able to return in time for the visit of Newcastle.

Asked if Fernandes or Mainoo were available for United’s Boxing Day clash, Amorim said: ‘No, not for this game.

‘They are recovering. 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 Bruno will be out]. I have an idea of course, but let’s see.’

On Maguire and De Ligt, Amorim added: ‘We are still working with them, they are not available for this one. Let’s see for the next one.’

Asked how he will go about replacing Fernandes, one of the best players in the Premier League, Amorim said: ‘We have other players, we need to maybe see different ways of playing.

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‘I think Jack Fletcher did a very good job, and that’s why when we have these opportunities, we need to give space to guys like Jack and the other ones.

‘I am confident we can win any game. Of course, we have some problems but I believe in the team even without many players in this moment I believe in the team and I believe that we can win any game.

‘Of course, it is more difficult but, again, I trust in my players and if we are really focused in the game, we can win.’

Newcastle United beat Manchester United 2-0 in this fixture last season, while Eddie Howe’s side won the game at St James’ Park 4-1.

While Amorim’s Red Devils lost to Aston Villa on Sunday, Newcastle threw away a two-goal lead at home to Chelsea.

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