There'll be no Bruno Fernandes for Manchester United on Sunday, as they take on Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Erik ten Hag will head to Birmingham without his star midfielder, who's captained his side of late in Harry Maguire 's absence. Suspended due to picking five yellow cards before the halfway stage of the league campaign, Fernandes will see someone else take his no.10 position at Villa Park.
The only time that has happened this season was when the Red Devils suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Real Sociedad - a result that ultimately proved fatal to their hopes of winning their Europa League group. That September night, Fred was surprisingly selected by Ten Hag to replace the rested Fernandes, while Christian Eriksen - a more natural attacking player - remained in a deep-lying role.
Eriksen was hauled off at half-time following a flat performance, prompting Fred - who'd struggled to make an impact while being deployed so far advanced - to drop deeper. But it was too late for United as they fell to a second-half Brais Mendez penalty.
The loss to Real Sociedad came back to bite them this Thursday, as a 1-0 win the reverse fixture wasn't enough to see them top of the group and automatically qualify for the last 16. It's not only put the Red Devils in jeopardy, but also given them two extra fixtures in February to add to their hectic schedule.
Enjoying a run of three successive victories as well as clean sheets, Ten Hag - who we know likes to stick to his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation - must realise his error from September's defeat. Simple as it may sound, the 52-year-old tactician should switch Fred and Eriksen's positions.
It would allow the Dane to better express his creativity and make up for Fernandes' absence in attack, while Fred partners his Brazilian compatriot, Casemiro, to make a meaner defensive midfield. What's more is that United are set to face a defensively resolute Villa, who'll be managed by Unai Emery for the first time - a coach who's frustrated much of Ten Hag's squad before.
The Red Devils manager has already admitted that he's got a selection dilemma on his hands thanks to the suspended Fernandes, who's featured in all 18 games of his United tenure. "We know that we have to replace Bruno, that is quite clear," Ten Hag affirmed to reporters on Friday.
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"We have to see how we replace him, and we have to think about that, and it is short so soon after this game [against Real Sociedad]. I have one night to think about that."
The former Ajax boss also told club media : "Bruno is so important for us. In every match, he plays really good. I think also [Thursday], he was playing from the right, he made an impact there as well.
"You see, for instance, with the goal and also some other actions. As a no.10, he's playing really good games and we have to replace him, that's the squad. Therefore, you need a squad, it's not about 11 players, you need a squad to win in a season and now we have to replace him and we will do."
However coy he plays it in the press, Ten Hag should be in no doubt that Eriksen is his man for the job.
