Fernandes limping scare clouds Man United preparations for Manchester derby

Manchester United are sweating on the fitness of captain Bruno Fernandes ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby against City at Old Trafford, after he was seen limping as he left the stadium following Thursday’s 4-0 Champions League victory.

Fernandes played the full 90 minutes against Sabah and scored, but he did not appear to pick up a knock during the game itself. Manager Michael Carrick explained the decision to keep him on, citing limited substitution options: “We only had five subs. We had to make certain decisions on what that looked like. He has played an awful lot, but I think we’re developing the group and the squad to be able to accommodate that in different ways. Tonight was just one of those things.”

The concern over Fernandes adds to an already stretched injury list heading into the derby. Left-back Luke Shaw was withdrawn late in the win over Everton with cramp and was rested for the Sabah game as a precaution. Carrick said the club would assess him over the coming days, with Sunday’s derby listed as his potential return date.

Carlos Baleba, who joined from Brighton, has yet to make his debut after picking up an ankle problem. Carrick indicated the midfielder could be sidelined for two to three weeks, pointing to the away trip to Fulham on 20 September as a more realistic target for his first appearance.

Matthijs de Ligt is edging closer to a return from a back injury that has kept him out for an extended period. Carrick was cautiously optimistic: “He’s trained really well but we’re still managing it. He’s on a good track, in a good place, and hopefully some time soon.” No firm return date has been set for the Dutch defender.

Amad is also unavailable this weekend after picking up a knock, with Carrick confirming on 28 August that the winger would be out “a little bit longer”. Goalkeeper Tom Heaton remains sidelined with a hamstring problem, though his absence has minimal impact on first-team selection.

United will need to navigate those fitness concerns before Sunday’s 4.30pm kick-off against City — a fixture that carries significant weight in the early-season Premier League standings.