Will he miss the derby? Man United star at risk of missing clash with Man City
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was in the spotlight after the Champions League match against Sabah. Despite the packed schedule and heavy workload at the start of the season, the Portuguese midfielder played the full 90 minutes and was spotted limping alongside medical staff after the final whistle.
Fernandes has played every minute of the first four matches of the season and has already scored four goals. In the 4-0 victory over Sabah, he once again stayed on the pitch until the end, despite United head coach Michael Carrick making several substitutions.
The manager explained that the decision was dictated by the course of the game and the five-substitution limit. “We only had five substitutions! We had to make certain decisions about how it was going to look,” Carrick said.
The coach admitted that Fernandes needs a rest after such a heavy workload, but the team needed him on the pitch until the final whistle.
There are also concerns over Luke Shaw's fitness ahead of the Manchester derby. The defender missed the match against Sabah because he was not 100 per cent fit. Carrick said the decision not to risk the player had been made in advance, while his availability for the clash with Manchester City will be known in the near future.
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
