Bruno Fernandes has built a reputation as one of the most durable players in top-flight European football. That’s why the hamstring problem he seemed to suffer against Aston Villa has caused so much concern at Manchester United.
United suffered only their second defeat since September on Sunday, when they lost 2-1 at Villa Park. The result was a blow in itself, but the biggest concern for Ruben Amorim’s side was a hamstring injury suffered by Fernandes shortly before half-time.
The United captain initially tried to overcome the problem and continued playing despite visible discomfort in the back of his right leg. He even came close to scoring his sixth Premier League goal of the season, but was denied by an excellent block from Ezri Konsa. Fernandes was eventually withdrawn in the interim, but amid growing fears this could prove to be the biggest injury of his career.
After the match, United head coach Ruben Amorim confirmed the injury was a muscle strain and admitted his captain is likely to miss the coming games.
“I think it’s soft tissue, so it’ll take a while,” Amorim said Air sports. “I think he will lose some games, I’m not sure. He is a man who is always fit and can therefore recover well, but I don’t know.”
Bruno Fernandes’ injury record
Concerns over Fernandes’ condition are compounded by the extraordinary reliability he has shown throughout his career.
During his spells at Sampdoria, Sporting CP, Manchester United and Portugal, Fernandes has never missed more than two consecutive games due to injury or illness.
His longest absence came in May 2024, when a knee problem ruled him out for thirteen days. That setback forced him to miss the Premier League defeats to Crystal Palace and Arsenal, but he still returned in time to play the full 90 minutes of the FA Cup final against Manchester City later that month.
Before that knee problem, Fernandes – who recently dropped a hint about his next club – had missed just one United match for fitness reasons. He was unavailable for a 3-2 win over Tottenham in March 2022 due to illness, but started a Champions League match against Atletico Madrid just three days later.
The only other recorded absences are a leg injury that ruled him out of two games in Portugal in March 2019 and a bout of flu in January 2017 while playing for Sampdoria.
Complete list of injuries and illnesses of Bruno Fernandes
| Problem | When | Missed games |
|---|---|---|
| Flu | January 2017 | 1 |
| Leg injury | March 2019 | 2 |
| Disease | March 2022 | 1 |
| Knee injury | May 2024 | 2 |
How long will a hamstring injury keep Bruno Fernandes out?
Hamstring injuries can vary greatly in severity, making early assessment difficult. Milder cases may allow players to return within fourteen days, while moderate to severe strains will typically rule players out for three to eight weeks, depending on the extent of the damage.
Amorim’s decision to remove Fernandes at half-time rather than risk further damage suggests United are taking a cautious approach. The Portuguese midfielder’s history of quick recovery may work in his favor, but the club are unlikely to rush back their key player during a busy run of fixtures.
United defender Diogo Dalot admitted the magnitude of the potential loss after the match.
“It’s huge,” Dalot said. “We don’t know how bad it is, but if he comes off, we’ll know how strong he is.”
How many games could Bruno Fernandes miss?
Fernandes is expected to miss the Boxing Day match with Newcastle, while there is a good chance he will also miss the home game against Wolves on December 30.
If the injury turns out to be a mild hamstring strain, Fernandes could return in early January, possibly even in United’s first game of 2026, away to Leeds on January 4.
However, it is also likely that he could miss the match against Leeds and further matches against Burnley, Brighton, Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham, Tottenham and West Ham if his hamstring injury is more serious.
“It’s really strange,” Amorim said after the defeat at Villa Park. “This year, especially at this time, we have so many problems, but we have to deal with them.”
Regardless of how long he is out, the United captain will be missed. Many supporters believe Fernandes is on course to become a Man United legend, having also recently climbed above Paul Scholes into fourth place on the club’s all-time assists list in the Premier League.
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