Manchester United have Bruno Fernandes fit to start against Tottenham tonight.
The Portugal international was pictured by his wife on social media wearing a protective boot after Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final penalty shootout win over Brighton at Wembley, which cast doubt on his fitness for the journey to north London in a huge game for the top-four race.
While manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed that the measure was preventative rather than as a result of a major injury, Fernandes was made a doubt for this evening’s meeting with Spurs despite travelling with the squad on Thursday.
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Raphael Varane is also not ready to return with Lisandro Martinez, Donny van de Beek and Alejandro Garnacho all long-term absentees. Scott McTominay, Tom Heaton and Phil Jones are also sidelined for United.
Ten Hag, however, has confirmed that the rest of his squad are all in contention ahead of a crucial fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“There are some unavailable. Martinez, Varane. We have to see how Bruno Fernandes is,” the Dutchman said at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. “We don't know yet, he is a question mark. I think for the rest, we are quite okay.”
Expanding on Fernandes, Ten Hag added: “It's more often [than not] that players [wear the boot], that we protect them. Prevention.
“But it [the ankle] has to settle down so we all have seen he played the full [90-minute] game and it happened in the first half. But [the game is] Thursday, so tomorrow is quick but we have to see what is possible.”
A win for United tonight would take them nine points ahead of seventh-placed Spurs while boasting two games in hand, also leapfrogging Newcastle back into third.
Manchester United XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Shaw, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernades, Sancho; Rashford.
Subs: Butland, Malacia, Williams, Fred, Pellistri, Sabitzer, Elanga, Martial, Weghorst.
