Bruno Fernandes hands Manchester United huge boost after injury worry

Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - Group A4 - Denmark v Portugal - Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark - October 1, 2026 Denmark's Pierre-Emile Hoejbjerg, Portugal's Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto Sebastian Elias Uth/Ritzau Scanpix via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. DENMARK OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN DENMARK. — Fernandes captained Portugal in the absence of Ronaldo (Picture: REUTERS)

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes eased injury concerns after playing in Portugal’s Nations League victory over Denmark.

The subject of Cristiano Ronaldo’s international future has taken centre stage with the 41-year-old insisting he is done with the national team after a row with head coach Jorge Jesus.

Ronaldo was not in the squad for Thursday’s game in Copenhagen with Fernandes wearing the captain’s armband in his absence.

Fernandes had been considered a major doubt for Thursday’s game having missed the previous game against Norway.

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He was also replaced late on in the 1-0 victory over Wales at the start of the international break.

Aside from his hat-trick against Ipswich Town, Fernandes has not hit his usual heights this season for United off the back of his sublime 2025-26 campaign with Portugal boss Jorge Jesus revealing the captain has been battling a ‘complicated’ injury problem.

The unspecified issue had been causing Fernandes problems for the last three games, considered a serious doubt for games against Manchester City and Fulham before passing late fitness tests.

Portugal's forward #11 Joao Felix (L) reacts next to Portugal's midfielder Bruno Fernandes during the UEFA Nations League Group A4 match between Denmark and Portugal at Parken stadium in Copenhagen on October 1, 2026. (Photo by Sebastian Elias Uth / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP via Getty Images) / Denmark OUT — Fernandes provided two assists (Picture: AFP)

But Fernandes showed no signs of struggle against Denmark, providing two assists in a 4-2 victory in a telling glimpse of life after Ronaldo for Portugal.

Fernandes was replaced in injury time.

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‘He played a better second half than the first,’ Jesus said of Fernandes’ performance after the match.

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - OCTOBER 1: Bruno Fernandes of Portugal thanks supporters for standing after winning the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Denmark and Portugal at Parken Stadium on October 1, 2026 in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo by Mart??n Fonseca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) — Fernandes had been dealing with an injury problem (Picture: Getty)

‘I demand certain things from those who play in that position, I told him that at halftime, and then he was even better. He made a pinpoint pass to Vitinha and was very good.’

United return to action against Tottenham on 10 October.

Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo both withdrew from the England squad at the start of the international break with Patrick Dorgu returning to Manchester ahead of schedule to be assessed after a hamstring injury.

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