Fernandes is the most likely midfield partner for Casemiro with Kobbie Mainoo back on the bench.placeholder image
Fernandes is the most likely midfield partner for Casemiro with Kobbie Mainoo back on the bench. | Getty Images
A trip to the Etihad Stadium is up next for Ruben Amorim and he has a big decision to make regarding Bruno Fernandes.
Ruben Amorim must make a key Bruno Fernandes decision to restore an unhappy Manchester United favourite back into the starting XI. Manchester United's season has been a mixed bag so far with the frustration being that they are three points off second place and could easily be in the Champions League places.
Good performances haven't provided the results that they deserved with a missed penalty by the rattled Bruno Fernandes at Fulham being the finest of margins away from a much better start to the season – if the EFL Cup shambles is put to the side, that is.
One small crumb of comfort though is that derby rivals Man City are only four places below United in the league, even if the safety margin is only one point. Ruben Amorim will be pleased with some of what he has seen so far, however, there is still a bit of fine tuning to be done to his tactics and starting XI.
Decision Man Utd need to make with Bruno Fernandes
Matheus Cunha has been a perfect representation of United’s campaign so far. After four appearances, he is yet to score or provide an assist, and yet there will be few complaints about his performances or issues with him being in the team after his £62.5m move from Wolves in the summer. The 26-year old has been in the treatment room for a few weeks and will not be fit to face City, but his absence might make Amorim’s team selection easier to make.
One of the “problems” that the Red Devils boss has faced so far this season is where to play Fernandes, so far, the skipper has been deployed in a deeper role when, historically, he has always done his best work in the final third and closer to the opposition goal.
With Cunha not 100%, the decision should be an easy one with the pre-season engine room of Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte, that started to look promising, being reinstated for a game where legs will be needed in midfield. Mainoo had requested to leave United, a request that was rejected by the club, but it always seemed more like a statement of his desire to play more often, rather than a transfer request because he wasn’t happy with the manager.
What does Amorim want to see from Mainoo?
Speaking ahead of the Grimsby Town debacle, Amorim was asked directly about Mainoo and what he expected to see from the England international who must be frustrated at seeing both Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson jump the queue in terms of the national team having been the great hope of the fans when he first burst onto the scene.
"The same as any player in that position. I expect a lot from Kobbie Mainoo,’ Amorim said via The Daily Mail. "Again, people think that sometimes you need to just give... I think it is important for Kobbie to fight for his place.
"I believe a lot in Kobbie; more than what everyone thinks. I believe a lot in Kobbie. I expect a lot from him. He is playing in one position and is fighting with Bruno. They can play together.
"We need to improve that position and you could see that against Fulham. "I just expect the best from Kobbie in the same way as everybody." What Mainoo also needs, is a chance, and rather than putting a square peg in a round hole, he should be given a starting role against City.
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