Manchester United have received a timely boost ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League clash at Burnley, with Mason Mount and captain Bruno Fernandes both available for selection. The return of the midfield pair comes as newly appointed interim manager Darren Fletcher prepares for his first match in charge following the dismissal of head coach Ruben Amorim.
Speaking at his first pre-match press conference since taking over on Monday, Fletcher confirmed that Mount and Fernandes have recovered from injuries and are expected to be part of the squad. Fernandes had been sidelined with a hamstring issue picked up before Christmas, while Mount suffered his injury a day later. Both players missed Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Leeds United but had been close to featuring.
“They’ll be on managed minutes and restricted minutes because they have only just returned to training so that is good news, especially because they are players who have been in good form,” Fletcher said. “To have them available for selection is obviously great news for me, the players and the club and the fans.”
The availability of two key figures provides an immediate lift for Fletcher as he begins his short-term spell in charge of the Premier League side. A former Manchester United midfielder with 342 appearances for the club, Fletcher most recently worked as coach of the under-18 squad before being asked to step in following Amorim’s departure.
Despite the sudden change in role, Fletcher insisted his full attention remains on the immediate task at hand rather than his long-term future. “I’ve had a conversation and the focus is on this game and then we’ll speak after the game,” he said. “Honestly it is not something I’ve thought about. I’m focusing on Burnley. I think that discussion’s for after the game.”
When asked whether he would like to stay on beyond the interim period, the Scot reiterated that everything had happened too quickly to consider such questions. “It’s all happened so quickly, all my concentration and efforts and thoughts are going into Burnley,” he said.
Fletcher admitted the experience of leading the first team felt “surreal,” describing the opportunity as an unexpected honour. “It is an amazing honour to be able to lead a Manchester United team. I didn’t think it was in my wildest dreams that that was something that could potentially happen,” he said. “To lead out the team is an amazing honour and something I am really proud to do, not in the circumstances I expected it to happen.”
As United head to Burnley, Fletcher faces the challenge of steadying the team while embracing a moment he admits still feels hard to fully process.
