Fletcher's acting debut and Bruno and Mount's quick return

Manchester United will face Burnley away on Wednesday night, marking not only their first game since Ruben Amorin's departure but also the return of key personnel.

Interim head coach Darren Fletcher confirmed at the pre-match press conference that the core duo of Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount are expected to return to the squad.

Fletcher revealed that both players had previously expressed their strong desire to play, but after careful recovery training, they are now finally ready. He emphasized: "Mason's form before the injury was amazing, and Bruno's significance to the team, the club, and the fans as captain and leader is self-evident. Having them available at this time is a huge encouragement."

Given that both players have just returned from injury and have a tough FA Cup match against Brighton this weekend, Fletcher said he will strictly manage their playing time and adopt a limited substitution strategy to prevent recurrence of injuries.

Despite the midfield reinforcements, Manchester United's defense remains strained. Key center-backs Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire, along with rising midfielder Coby Menou, are still sidelined with injuries. Furthermore, several other key players, including Mazraoui, Mbemo, and Ahmad, are currently competing in the Africa Cup of Nations.

With limited personnel, Joshua Zirkzee, who impressed as a substitute in the last round, is expected to get more opportunities. Whether Fletcher can stabilize the situation at Moore Stadium will depend on whether the returning Fernandez and Mount can quickly regain their dominance on the field.