Ruben Amorim, the Manchester United head coach, has cautioned against panic buying in the January transfer window following an injury to Bruno Fernandes, which compounds an already extensive injury list. Fernandes was forced off at halftime during the 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday, adding to United's woes.

Amorim revealed that he anticipates Fernandes, the team's captain, will be sidelined for "a while" due to a soft tissue injury, possibly a hamstring issue. Fernandes appeared to injure his left leg after a tackle in the first half but continued playing until halftime when he was replaced by Lisandro Martínez. Martínez played alongside Manuel Ugarte in midfield, as Kobbie Mainoo was also absent with a calf injury sustained in training. Amorim also expects Mainoo to miss the Boxing Day game against Newcastle.

The Manchester United manager stressed the importance of finding solutions from within the squad rather than rushing into the transfer market. He stated he wouldn't pressure Director of Football Jason Wilcox and Chief Executive Omar Berrada to make hasty acquisitions. "What we cannot do is to reach January and try to do everything in urgency and make mistakes, and then [it's] 'here we go again' with a lot of mistakes," Amorim said. He emphasized the need to stick to the club's long-term plan, even if it means enduring a difficult period.

Manchester United have several players unavailable due to injuries and international duties. Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo, and Noussair Mazraoui are set to join their national teams for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Key players like Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt are currently sidelined with injuries. Casemiro recently returned from suspension.

Amorim acknowledged the challenges posed by the mounting injury list but insisted on finding solutions within the existing squad. Lisandro Martinez filled in midfield against Aston Villa, and Jack Fletcher made his first-team debut from the bench. Amorim stated, "We are going to find solutions. No excuses. We need to win the next game, and we will try to win the next game". He also admitted that Manchester United might switch to a back four formation due to the absence of key wing-backs.

Despite the defeat against Aston Villa, Amorim maintained a positive outlook, stating that his team is moving in the right direction. He noted they were unlucky and performed well against a strong opponent. Amorim said, "Today was completely the opposite, we were the better team against a team that is strong at home and in a very good run". He also highlighted the importance of bringing players through the academy, which adds value to the club.

Manchester United will face Newcastle on Boxing Day, followed by a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Amorim hopes his team can cope with the current challenges and secure positive results despite the setbacks. The January transfer window opens on January 1st, giving Manchester United the opportunity to strengthen their squad, but Amorim is keen to avoid any rash decisions.