Bruno Fernandes is a doubt for Manchester United ahead of their crunch Premier League clash with Liverpool this weekend.
The Portuguese played the full 90 minutes of the Red Devils’ 3-2 win over Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday night, however, he was on the end of some tough tackles.
And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed the player is struggling with the knocks but refused to rule him out of the match altogether.
“Games like Wednesday night are always going to bring knocks and bruises,” Solskjaer said at his pre-match press conference.
“We do have two or three from that game. Bruno might be one of them that is a doubt, but he’s doing everything he can to be ready.”
Fred and Marcus Rashford also picked up knocks against Atalanta, with the latter forced off by a dead leg after scoring United’s first goal.
Solskjaer said: “It was a great effort towards the end of course – a great comeback and a great Champions League night.
“We have some knocks and bruises. But it’s still Friday, the game’s on Sunday, and we will give everyone time. Today (in training), we didn’t have everyone, but let’s see Sunday.
“I hope I can pick from a fully fit squad. It might be that I’m without two or three.”
Solskjaer was given huge credit by talkSPORT’s Jamie O’Hara as Man United came back from 2-0 down at half-time to claim the three points.
O’Hara said on the Sports Bar: “Credit where it’s due, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pulls it out the bag again. He must’ve been going in at half time thinking ‘I’m on my last legs here, I’m done, I can’t keep my job.’
“But the players come out and dig him out of a hole again!
“That says something about him as a manager when the players come out and put in a performance like that in the second half.”
However, Jason Cundy insists Solskjaer’s side need to stop getting into situations where a heroic comeback is required.
The former Chelsea defender said: “I’ve never seen a team so consistently be brilliant and shockingly bad in the same 90 minutes – sometimes in the same 45 minutes.
“I don’t get them as a side – they’re ridiculous. They can be so good and so bad in the same game with the same players. Remarkable.
“Every time Solskjaer needs a result… as bad as United can be like they were against Leicester… they can’t keep getting away with it, but they do.
“Somehow they can be dreadful, give teams a two-goal head start – like Southampton last season when they were 2-0 down, Villarreal this season.
“They’re a Jekyll and Hyde side. From shockingly bad, pathetic at times, to absolutely brilliant. I can only imagine what it was like at half time.”
United can ill-afford to give Liverpool a two-goal head start…
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