Manchester United interim boss Darren Fletcher has offered a timely lift ahead of Wednesday night’s Premier League clash against Burnley, confirming that Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount are expected to return to the squad.
Speaking at Carrington, Fletcher explained that both midfielders have trained after recent injury setbacks and are now back in contention following United’s frustrating draw at Leeds, as covered by SoftFootball.
The Burnley game comes at an important moment for United, who are trying to steady themselves after recent dropped points and the departure of Ruben Amorim earlier this week. Turf Moor will not be straightforward, with Burnley keen to frustrate United’s attack despite their league struggles, according to SoftFootball.
Fletcher stressed that while the return of Fernandes and Mount is positive, caution will be applied given their recent injuries and a busy schedule ahead. Fletcher noted in a post shared on the club’s official X account that both players were close to featuring against Leeds, but the club opted not to rush them.
He then said:
Mason and Bruno were pushing to play against Leeds. The decision was that they weren’t quite ready, so they’ve trained.
With the FA Cup tie against Brighton looming at the weekend, managing workloads is a priority.
Fletcher added:
They should be back in the squad, but they’ll be on managed minutes as well, restricted minutes because obviously they’ve just returned to training.
The interim boss made it clear how significant their availability is, particularly in a squad hit by injuries and international absences. Fernandes missed three games after picking up a hamstring issue against Aston Villa, while Mount was withdrawn during the Boxing Day win over Newcastle.
Summing up their influence, Fletcher said:
That’s good news, especially the fact that they’ve been in good form. Mason Mount’s form has been fantastic and we don’t have to speak about Bruno. He’s the captain, he’s the leader of the team so to have them available for selection is great news for me and for the players and for the club and for the fans.
Check the post below:
United will still be without several names, including Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo through injury, while Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo remain away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Fletcher also addressed talk around his twin sons, Jack and Tyler, confirming they remain on the fringes. For now, the focus is Burnley, and the possible return of two key figures offers a sense of calm, even if just a little.
