Manchester United have played 221 games since Bruno Fernandes was signed in January 2020. Since then, Bruno Fernandes has feature din 212 of those games, and has only missed 2 of those through injury, and one through illness. His availability has been one of the only reliable constants in the chaos of the past half-decade at Old Trafford.
This makes his injury at Villa Park last weekend even more shocking. Bruno seemingly pulled up towards the end of the first half, and hearts sank in the away end as Lisandro Martinez emerged to replace him at half-time.
While the club has not commented on the extent of the injury, Amorim has confirmed that he will miss the Boxing Day clash against Newcastle United, and he is likely to be out for around 4 weeks.
It adds a new and unfamiliar problem to the pile of issues manager Ruben Amorim is currently dealing with. Adapting to life without Bruno Fernandes is unlike adapting to the loss of any other player. Bruno is a lynchpin of the entire team: he's crucial in build-up, he supplies a steady stream of goals and assists, he's the best playmaker in the side, one of the best finishers, and he is the chosen free-kick and penalty taker.
That's without even talking about his intangible qualities, like his passion and his leadership. His commitment to the club is without question, especially after he turned down interest from Saudi clubs in the summer.
Bruno Fernandes' injury is forcing Ruben Amorim and Mancheser United to adapt in order to survive
Unfortunately for United, Bruno may well be most sorely missed in the very next game, against Newcastle United on Boxing Day. Their midfield is famously industrious, and they will look to exploit the two-man midfield, especially without the tireless legs of Fernandes. Not only will United be without Bruno, they will also likely be without Kobbie Mainoo, as a minor injury kept him out of Sunday's game at Villa Park.
Many of Kobbie Mainoo's absences from the starting XI this season have been due to the fact he and Bruno compete for the same position. If Mainoo can return from his injury and hit the ground running, he is the obvious successor to Bruno's position.
It could even be seen as a positive from Kobbie's perspective, as it could allow him to have a run in the team, and prove to Amorim what he has proved to most of the fans: that he is more than good enough for Manchester United.
Mainoo does not provide the variety of skills that Bruno does, especially on the defensive end, but he offers enough to merit a starting position, and if utilised correctly can help United win games. With Casemiro back from suspension and finding form, they could form a competitive midfield partnership.
Ruben Amorim went a different way to replace Bruno against Aston Villa. With no Casemiro or Kobbie Mainoo to turn to, he brought on centre-back Lisandro Martinez to play in defensive midfield. Martinez has had some experience playing in that role at his former club Ajax, but has never been deployed there under Ruben Amorim. On paper, his skill set has always seemed to match that of the defensive midfielder.
Martinez gave a good account of himself in the second half at Villa Park, and having some progressive passing ability on the field is always an advantage. He's been one of United's best signings post-Fergie, and when fit he is a huge asset. Playing him in midfield isn't ideal, but without Bruno, nothing is.
There are other alternatives that Amorim must consider. Academy graduate Jack Fletcher came off the bench to offer midfield support against Aston Villa, as did Shea Lacey, who could come into the side if Mason Mount drops back into midfield to fill the position Bruno has vacated.
Fletcher, the son of former United midfield Darren Fletcher, is a quality technician, and comfortable with the ball, but putting him in the side is a little risky given his rawness and his inexperience.
Shea Lacey is inexperienced too, but his skillset looks a little more Premier League-ready than Fletcher's, and he has the flair and on-the-ball ability to be a difference maker in Premier League games.
Amorim has seemed resistant to playing academy players, with Kobbie Mainoo's lack of minutes being the best example. But given the current circumstances, with the problem of AFCON only being amplified with the loss of another member of United's core, Ruben may have no choice but to hand the keys to the kids.
No solution here is as good as having Bruno Fernandes return quickly. Given his record of staying fit, there is hope that his absence may only be a short one. If United do need to adapt, there are players that could step, make a difference and make a statement. But with games like Manchester City and Arsenal away from home on the horizon, Bruno can't come back soon enough.