Manchester United has been hit by a double injury blow during an international break that has already caused problems for Liverpool
Portugal's Bruno Fernandes warming up during the UEFA Nations League match against Wales
Portugal's Bruno Fernandes has suffered an injury while on international duty(Image: Photo by Torbjorn Tande/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
This international break is seemingly taking no prisoners as Liverpool 's bitter rival Manchester United is the latest club to suffer an injury setback.
Real Madrid has been dealt issues with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Ibrahima Konate, Arsenal has suffered a setback with Kai Havertz and Liverpool is now sweating over the fitness of attackers Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo. Even worse is that most nations still have two, if not three, games left to play before club football resumes in mid-October.
Liverpool striker Isak withdrew from the Sweden squad following its narrow win over Romania, owing to what manager Graham Potter described as a 'minor' thigh injury. Gakpo, meanwhile, was forced off in the first half of the Netherlands' win over Serbia on Sunday evening with an apparent ankle injury.
United duo Bruno Fernandes and Patrick Dorgu are the latest to join a growing list of high-profile injuries. Portugal boss Jorge Jesus revealed in a press conference that Fernandes is nursing an injury he sustained while playing for his club.
The midfielder played 90 minutes of the narrow win over Wales on Thursday night before he was substituted. However, he was left out entirely for the narrow win over Norway on Sunday owing to the injury.
"He played with an injury he brought from Manchester United. He really wanted to play against Wales,” the Portugal boss explained prior to the game. "He wasn’t at his usual level, we’ll see if he’s ready.
"He said he’s been dealing with that pain for about three games, and that was one of the factors that prevented him from being at his usual level against Wales. He was my player, I know him perfectly. I’ve already spoken to him. I prefer not to risk him in this game and have him clean and in good physical condition for the Denmark game."
Patrick Dorgu (Denmark) during Group Stage, UEFA Nations League match against Wales
A second Manchester United player in Patrick Dorgu suffered an injury while away on international duty(Image: Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Dorgu, meanwhile, started Denmark's Nations League clash with Wales on Sunday, a game it went on to win 2-0. The United star lasted just 30 minutes before he was substituted after going down off the ball.
Injuries are a mounting concern for United boss Michael Carrick with a tricky run of games to come after the international break. Tottenham makes the trip to Old Trafford before a run of away games against Atletico Madrid and Leeds United.
Liverpool, which is nursing concerns of its own, faces Manchester City in its first game back after the break. It also faces an away trip to Brentford a week later, with a clash away at LASK in the Champions League sandwiched in between.
Of course, all eyes will be on when Liverpool and United face each other for the first time this season. That game will come immediately after the November international break when United makes the trip to Anfield.