How United will cope without Fernandes

Our club captain picked up a muscle injury during the first half of last Sunday’s Premier League match against Aston Villa and was substituted at half-time. 

With Casemiro suspended and Kobbie Mainoo injured, Lisandro Martinez took Bruno’s place in midfield at Villa Park and performed well, before Academy midfielder Jack Fletcher made his senior debut later on. 

Case’s return from a one-match ban boosts Amorim’s options against Newcastle, with Manuel Ugarte also vying for contention in midfield.

When asked about Bruno’s absence during Wednesday’s press conference, Ruben hinted he might look towards youth.

“We have other players. We need maybe [to] try to see different ways of playing. I think Jack Fletcher did a very good job and that's why when we have this opportunity, we need to give space to guys like Jack and the other ones. So, we'll find solutions to play.”

Quizzed on how Fletcher and his fellow debutant Shea Lacey have been this week, Ruben continued: “Normal, they are normal. They are good kids.

“The behaviour that they have showed during these weeks are really good. But I don't have that feeling that they were a little bit different because, ‘I played for Manchester United’. No, they are really focused and they are preparing the game, and they believe that they can play. That is a good feeling. So, nothing different that I saw in the last few weeks."

The subject of Bruno’s injury dominated the Christmas eve press conference, but Ruben was calm and revealed the message he has relayed to the squad.

“I think it's impossible to replace Bruno, but I say that in this morning to the team. I think we need to take the good thing, if there is a good thing on that a lot of people need to step up.

“And if you see, it's not just the creation, but every set piece, he’s the guy that is organising sometimes the team. And that is a good opportunity for everyone to step up and to understand that we cannot rely on one player for everything. And sometimes we rely on Bruno in the organisation, in the creation.

"We lost Bruno on set pieces. We lost Bryan [Mbeumo] and Amad on set pieces. So, this is massive for the team, but it's an opportunity for other players to step up and to show the leadership that we need in the team."

In terms of leadership, Amorim will look to his other experienced players. "He [Bruno] understands every position on the field. He pays attention to every detail. Every set piece, when you have a substitution, he’s always the guy that is telling the other guys where they should be.

"But that is a very good opportunity for guys like Licha [Martinez], Luke Shaw, all these guys. We need to step up to have more leaders in the group because this can happen to Bruno. It's not usual, but this can happen. So, it's a big opportunity for the other guys.”

Part two of Ruben's press conference will be available from 22:30 GMT on Thursday.