Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has lightheartedly suggested that Bruno Fernandes might be after his job, highlighting the midfielder's unwavering commitment to the team even while sidelined with a hamstring injury. The Portuguese international sustained the injury during United's 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa on December 21 and subsequently missed the Boxing Day fixture against Newcastle.

Fernandes' absence is a significant blow for United, as he has been a consistent and influential figure since joining the club in January 2020. This season alone, he has contributed 12 direct goal involvements in the Premier League, comprising five goals and seven assists. His overall Premier League record with United shows he has only missed 10 matches, with the team losing five of those, underscoring his importance to the team's success.

Despite being out of action, Fernandes remains a vocal leader and has been actively involved in training sessions, observing and offering ideas. Amorim praised Fernandes' leadership qualities, noting his positive influence on teammates and his ability to motivate from the sidelines. "He's constantly asking questions and offering ideas. Sometimes I think he might want to be in my seat," Amorim said. "That shows the type of character he is. He's not satisfied with just recovering — he wants to contribute in any way he can".

Amorim has already ruled Fernandes out of the upcoming Premier League match against Wolves on December 30, emphasizing the need for a cautious approach to his recovery. He stressed that Fernandes should not rush his return from the hamstring injury. "Bruno was already saying that he needs to train, but we don't know," Amorim said. "No chance he is going to play against Wolves, no chance".

In Fernandes' absence, Amorim is calling on other players to step up and take on extra responsibility. He acknowledged that it is impossible to directly replace Fernandes but emphasized the opportunity for other players to demonstrate their abilities. "It is impossible to replace Bruno but I said that this morning to the team," said Amorim. "We need to take the good thing - if there is a good thing on that - that a lot of people need to step up and understand we cannot rely on one player for everything".

Amorim's United have faced scrutiny regarding their formation, but the manager has resisted changes based on media pressure. He recently implemented a back four for the first time in the win against Newcastle on Boxing Day, indicating a potential shift in approach. Amorim also faces squad availability issues with Kobbie Mainoo, Matt De Ligt and Harry Maguire also unavailable. Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo are at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The club hopes Fernandes' recovery progresses smoothly, and further updates on his condition are expected in the coming weeks as medical staff continue to monitor his progress.