Manchester United have been handed a major concern ahead of their Premier League meeting with Everton, with Michael Carrick reportedly facing a late decision over the availability of captain Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese midfielder has been one of the most important players in Carrick’s team and his potential absence would represent a significant blow for United as they prepare for Sunday’s trip to Everton. The match is scheduled for September 6, 2026, at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with United looking to build on their impressive 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town.
Fernandes enters the Everton fixture in outstanding form after producing one of his best performances in a Manchester United shirt against Ipswich. The captain scored a hat-trick and also provided an assist in the 5-2 victory, leading the comeback after United had initially fallen behind. His influence was not limited to goals, as he repeatedly demanded the ball, dictated attacks and helped United maintain their intensity throughout the match. Reuters described his performance as particularly significant because Fernandes combined his usual creative responsibilities with a major scoring contribution.
That makes the latest injury concern particularly worrying for Carrick. United have become increasingly dependent on Fernandes to connect midfield with the attack, and losing him immediately before a difficult away fixture could force the manager to make substantial tactical adjustments. Although reports surrounding the team have focused on several injured players, including Amad Diallo, Carlos Baleba, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt and Mason Mount, Fernandes’ importance means any doubt over his fitness would naturally attract enormous attention from supporters.
The situation also comes at an important moment for Manchester United. Carrick’s side began the campaign with a disappointing defeat against Hull City but responded emphatically against Ipswich, producing five goals and showing considerably more attacking confidence. The victory gave the squad momentum ahead of the Everton trip, but a potential absence for Fernandes would test the depth and flexibility of Carrick’s midfield and attacking structure.
Fernandes has become much more than simply United’s creative midfielder. Since Carrick took charge, the captain has increasingly operated as the central figure around which the team’s attacking football is built. He can play as a conventional number 10, drop deeper to influence possession, arrive in the penalty area, take set pieces and lead the press. Against Ipswich, those qualities were on full display as he scored three times and created another goal, demonstrating why Carrick has placed so much responsibility on his shoulders.
For that reason, Carrick would be extremely reluctant to risk Fernandes if there is a genuine injury concern. Everton away is not a fixture where Manchester United can afford to lose their most influential attacking midfielder without careful consideration. Everton have started the season unbeaten and will be playing in front of their home supporters, while David Moyes’ side will be determined to make the most of United’s potential weakness.
The Toffees have already shown that they can be difficult opponents. Everton opened their Premier League campaign strongly and remain unbeaten heading into the encounter, while United arrive after a spectacular win over Ipswich. The contrast creates an intriguing contest, with Everton likely to test United physically and attempt to exploit any uncertainty in Carrick’s midfield.
If Fernandes is unavailable, Carrick would have several options, although none would provide exactly the same combination of creativity, leadership and goal threat. The manager could move another midfielder into a more advanced role or alter the shape of the team to compensate for the captain’s absence. Kobbie Mainoo, Youri Tielemans and other midfield options could potentially be asked to take on additional responsibility, while players such as Marcus Rashford, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha would also be expected to contribute more heavily in the final third.
The timing of the potential injury is especially unfortunate because Fernandes has just produced a performance capable of changing the mood around Old Trafford. After the disappointment of losing to Hull, United supporters needed a response, and their captain provided exactly that. His hat-trick against Ipswich not only secured three points but also reinforced his importance to Carrick’s project.
Carrick’s challenge, therefore, is to balance short-term ambition with the long-term fitness of his captain. If Fernandes has suffered an injury that could worsen with further exertion, selecting him against Everton could create a much bigger problem in the weeks ahead. Manchester United have a demanding season in front of them, including Premier League and European commitments, and protecting one of their most important players could ultimately be more valuable than taking an unnecessary risk in a single fixture.
At the same time, Fernandes is known for his willingness to play through difficult circumstances, particularly when he believes his team needs him. His leadership has been one of the defining features of his Manchester United career, and Carrick will have to decide whether the midfielder is fit enough to contribute without compromising his health. The final decision could depend on how Fernandes responds during the final stages of preparation before the match.
There is also a tactical argument for keeping Fernandes on the bench rather than immediately ruling him out. If his fitness is questionable but not completely compromised, Carrick could decide to start him among the substitutes and introduce him later if necessary. Such an approach would give United an experienced match-winner while reducing the physical demands placed on him from the opening whistle.
The alternative would be to leave him completely out of the squad and trust the rest of the team to deliver another strong performance. That would be a significant gamble, considering the influence Fernandes had against Ipswich. His ability to produce goals from midfield means Everton would have one less major threat to worry about if he is absent, potentially allowing the home side to devote more attention to United’s other attacking players.
United’s supporters will therefore be watching the team news extremely closely. Recent predicted line-ups have continued to include Fernandes in Carrick’s starting XI, while the confirmed injury picture has mainly involved other members of the squad. This means the precise status of Fernandes should be treated cautiously until the club provides definitive confirmation.
Regardless of whether he eventually starts, the uncertainty surrounding Fernandes highlights how important he has become to Carrick’s Manchester United. The manager has inherited a squad undergoing significant changes, and Fernandes remains one of the established leaders capable of guiding younger players through that transition. Carrick has previously praised the midfielder’s leadership and influence, making his presence particularly valuable beyond his statistical contribution.
There is also a psychological dimension to the situation. Manchester United have just regained confidence after their emphatic win over Ipswich, and another victory at Everton would strengthen the belief that the team can compete consistently under Carrick. Losing Fernandes could make that task considerably more difficult, particularly if Everton make the game physical and prevent United from finding their rhythm.
For Everton, meanwhile, the possibility of Fernandes missing the game could provide an additional boost. Moyes will know that stopping United’s captain can dramatically reduce the visitors’ attacking creativity. Without Fernandes, Everton could potentially focus more aggressively on shutting down the remaining forwards and controlling the central areas of the pitch.
However, Manchester United have enough attacking talent to cause Everton problems even without their captain. Rashford is capable of producing decisive moments, Mbeumo has quickly become an important attacking option, and Cunha gives United another player capable of carrying the ball and creating opportunities. The squad also contains midfielders who can contribute in different ways, meaning Carrick would not be completely without solutions.
Ultimately, the biggest question is whether Fernandes’ injury concern is serious enough to prevent him from playing. At this stage, supporters should distinguish between a genuine confirmed absence and a late fitness doubt. The latest available team-news reports do not establish Fernandes as a confirmed absentee, and some predicted line-ups still have him starting against Everton.
If Carrick does decide that Fernandes cannot play, it would be one of the most significant selection decisions of the weekend. The United manager would have to replace not only the captain’s creativity but also his leadership, set-piece ability, attacking movement and capacity to score from midfield. It would place greater responsibility on the rest of the squad and could force Carrick to adopt a slightly different approach.
For now, Manchester United fans will hope the concern proves minor and that Fernandes can recover in time for the Everton encounter. His extraordinary performance against Ipswich has made him the player everyone wants to see continue that momentum, but Carrick will ultimately have to put the player’s fitness first. The manager has already demonstrated that he is willing to make difficult decisions regarding his squad, and the Fernandes situation could become another major test of his judgement.
The Everton match represents an important opportunity for United to turn their dramatic win over Ipswich into genuine momentum. But whether Fernandes is leading the team from the first minute, waiting on the bench or forced to watch from the stands could have a major impact on how the game unfolds. For Carrick, the priority will be clear: assess the injury carefully, avoid taking unnecessary risks and make sure Manchester United have their captain available when he is genuinely ready to return.