Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes suspended for Aston Villa game

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Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes is suspended for Sunday’s Premier League game against Aston Villa.

United’s number eight picked up his fifth top-flight booking of the season in yesterday’s 1-0 win against West Ham United at Old Trafford.

As a result, the 28-year-old will serve a one-game domestic ban which rules him out of the trip to Villa Park, which could see Erik ten Hag’s men face Unai Emery in the Spaniard’s first game in charge of the Villains.

Fernandes has scored on all three of his trips to Villa Park and he scored twice in the 2-2 between the two sides back in January when Ralf Rangnick was in interim charge at Old Trafford.

The former Sporting Lisbon captain has scored five goals in six appearances against Villa. He’s only scored more against Leeds United (6) during his career.

Bruno Fernandes suspended for Aston Villa game

United’s Portuguese magnifico is the second player to pick up a one-game ban so far this season.

Scott McTominay missed the 0-0 draw against Newcastle United at the Theatre of Dreams after picking up his fifth booking against Everton.

Fernandes’ compatriot Diogo Dalot also sits on four bookings and one caution away from serving a ban whereas centre-back duo Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez both have three yellow cards to their name.

Fernandes will be a big miss for the trip to Birmingham, and it means that Ten Hag will have to shuffle his midfield pack.

Casemiro and Christian Eriksen will likely continue to occupy two of the three midfield positions with Fred or McTominay likely to replace Fernandes.

But if Ten Hag wants to keep Eriksen in a deep-lying playmaker role, Donny van de Beek could have an outside chance of coming into the side and making his first Premier League start for the twenty-time league champions in 18 months.