Man United 'worried' about Bruno Fernandes injury - 'It's a huge blow'

Manchester United are concerned about Bruno Fernandes' fitness after he suffered an injury on international duty.

The 32-year-old played for Portugal in their 1-0 win against Wales, but missed out on the 2-1 win against Norway as he was not ready to feature due to discomfort.

Jorge Jesus revealed that the attacking midfielder had played through pain against Wales, with the injury one he had initially suffered at Old Trafford before the international break.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Fernandes' injury will be a concern not only for the medical staff, but also for Michael Carrick's side.

Questions are bound to be asked about how the captain was allowed to report for international duty after seemingly suffering a blow during one of Man United's fixtures.

There is optimsim that Fernandes' injury will not be too serious, but it will be a significant blow if he is forced to spend a period on the sidelines ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.

What is next for Bruno Fernandes at Man United?

Brown told Football Insider on 18 August that Fernandes is set to play a crucial role for Man United in the upcoming season despite questions about his future at the club.

Any suggestions that the Portugal international could have been allowed to leave were quickly dismissed, with all parties keen to continue with him as their talisman.

However, now that he appears to have suffered an injury on international duty, there are concerns about whether he will be ready to play upon his return to Old Trafford.

"If Bruno Fernandes has picked up an injury, it's going to be a huge blow for Man United," Brown told Football Insider.

"Everybody knows how important he has been to the team, and if they're going to be without him then it's going to have an impact on the results, so they'll hope it's not too serious.

"The strange thing for me was that it's apparently an injury he picked up while he was at Man United, so in that case, why was he allowed to go on international duty in the first place?

"How did Man United miss the fact that he's injured? Now, if he's gone and played for Portugal and made it worse, they only have themselves to blame, and it's certainly a worry."

How do Man United feel about Fernandes' long-term future?

Fernandes' importance to Carrick's side since his arrival as Man United manager has been clear, and to be without him for any reason would come as a significant blow.

Alongside the latest concerns about his apparent injury, there are also concerns about the midfielder's long-term future amid growing transfer interest.

Football Insider revealed earlier this month that Saudi Pro League clubs are keeping a close eye on Fernandes' situation and could soon move to lure him to the Middle East.

He entered the final year of his contract in June, and talks over a new long-term deal are yet to progress, leading to concerns about his position.

However, Man United have no plans to entertain offers for their captain and instead hope to tie him down to a new contract at some stage in the near future.