Manchester United can't say they weren't sent clear Bruno Fernandes warning - now it may bite them

Manchester United can't say they weren't warned. Bruno Fernandes has barely missed a match for club or country in recent times but could be absent from the Reds squad tonight.

Erik ten Hag reported on Tuesday evening that the midfielder was a doubt for the FA Cup trip to Nottingham Forest, adding another name to a lengthy injury list. Fitness and Fernandes go hand in hand. The midfielder is rarely, if ever, injured and when available he plays.

Only six outfield players have played more Premier League minutes this season, while last term only seven outfielders spent more time on the pitch than the Reds skipper. But Ten Hag is now faced with the prospect of Fernandes, and plenty of others, missing out this evening.

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His importance to United and to manager ten Hag is clear. He is the captain and the midfielder conductor. While he has faced criticism at times for his body language and gestures, he sets high standards and demands from his team-mates. He is the manager's on-pitch lieutenant and is versatile enough to plug gaps, dropping into a wide position as and when required, a role he fulfilled several times last season including in the FA Cup final.

But he can't carry on indefinitely. Earlier this season it was revealed that he's made more appearances than any other player in the world in the past year, according to FIFPRO, the players' union. The final tally was a mammoth 6,666 minutes between September 15, 2022 and September 15, 2023 for club and country.

It's a huge workload at top level intensity. The midfielder played 70 games for club and country