Manchester United manager Michael Carrick says Bruno Fernandes will be given a rest when the schedule allows after the captain completed another 90 minutes in Thursday’s 4–0 Champions League victory over Sabah. Fernandes was seen leaving Old Trafford with a slight limp, but Carrick said the midfielder was fit and would have been substituted had United had more changes available.
Fernandes scored United’s second goal against Sabah and has now played every minute of the club’s first four matches this season. The 32-year-old has four goals in that period, continuing to provide the creative and goalscoring influence around which Carrick’s side is built.
Carrick said the decision to keep Fernandes on was shaped by the demands of the match and the limitations on substitutions.
“We only had five subs, so we had to make certain decisions,” Carrick said. “Of course, he has played an awful lot, but we are developing the group and the squad to be able to accommodate that in different ways. Tonight was just one of those things—there were decisions to be made, and he ended up staying on.”
The United manager confirmed that Fernandes is not carrying a serious injury concern ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby. The captain took several heavy challenges during the Sabah match, but Carrick said he would have been withdrawn had there been any concern over his condition.
Luke Shaw remains a doubt for the derby after missing the Champions League match. The left-back was given a rest day from training after experiencing cramp in the draw at Everton and was not deemed fully ready to face Sabah.
“We’ll have to see,” Carrick said when asked about Shaw’s availability. “He wasn’t quite ready for it 100%, so we didn’t risk it. We’ll see how he is over the next couple of days.”
Marcus Rashford was rested rather than injured against Sabah and is expected to be available for selection against City. Diogo Dalot was also given a full rest, while Bryan Mbeumo, Youri Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo and Patrick Dorgu were withdrawn before full-time as Carrick managed the group ahead of the weekend.
United have conceded six goals in their opening three Premier League matches, prompting debate over the balance of Carrick’s side. Gary Neville believes a three-man midfield may eventually be required to offer greater defensive security, though he acknowledged that moving Fernandes into a wider role would reduce the influence of a player most effective in the number 10 position.
“That means sometimes Bruno has to go to the side, which isn’t ideal because I think he is better in that number 10 spot,” Neville said.
Neville has also urged United not to treat Leny Yoro as a right-back solution. The former United defender said Yoro is a natural centre-back and that using him at full-back is “not ideal,” particularly when United have alternatives better suited to the position.
Carrick strengthened his midfield substantially in the summer, adding Andrey Santos from Chelsea, Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Carlos Baleba from Brighton. Baleba joined for an initial £65 million, with a further £5 million in add-ons possible, completing a midfield rebuild following Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s serious knee injury.
United now turn to Sunday’s derby against Manchester City, with Fernandes’ fitness, Shaw’s availability and Carrick’s defensive balance central to their preparations.
