Manchester United have been handed an untimely injury concern with Bruno Fernandes ahead of Thursday's crucial Premier League clash with top-four rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The Portuguese playmaker started and completed 101 minutes of Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Brighton & Hove Albion, as the Red Devils progressed to the final on penalties after a 0-0 draw in 120 minutes.
Fernandes initially sparked concern when he was hauled off in extra time - trudging off the field gingerly to be replaced by Wout Weghorst - although he took up a player-coach role on the sidelines for the remainder of the match.
Following their journey back home from Wembley, Man United will have three full days to recover before they visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face the Lilywhites on Thursday evening.
Erik ten Hag's side hold a six-point lead over their capital counterparts in fourth place with two games in hand, but Fernandes has seemingly emerged as a major doubt for the midweek contest.
🚨🇵🇹 Bruno's wife via IG:
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Via @UnitedStandMUFC pic.twitter.com/keg30xlk55
An Instagram post from the 28-year-old's wife shows Fernandes relaxing on the sofa with a protective boot encasing his right foot - which was elevated on three cushions - while a pair of crutches can also be seen in the shot.
Ten Hag will likely give an update on Fernandes's condition in his pre-game press conference, but any doubts over the Portugal international's fitness are far from ideal amid the Red Devils' current injury predicament.
Fernandes has not enjoyed his best season at Man United in terms of goals and assists, but he has still hit the double-figure mark in both categories, scoring 10 and setting up 13 more in 49 games across all competitions.
The former Sporting Lisbon man has filled in as captain for Harry Maguire in a large chunk of Man United's fixtures this season, and he has recorded 157 shot-creating actions this season - the third most in the big five European leagues behind Lionel Messi (167) and Kevin De Bruyne (161).
Despite also receiving criticism for his attitude with the armband - especially in Liverpool's 7-0 mauling of Man United last month - Fernandes's absence has been well and truly felt by the Red Devils, who lost 3-0 to Sevilla in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final without the suspended midfielder.
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With Fernandes absent alongside Donny van de Beek and potentially Scott McTominay - who is yet to recover from a knock - Ten Hag is left with Fred and Marcel Sabitzer as his options to bolster the midfield alongside Christian Eriksen and Casemiro.
However, the bulk of Man United's concerns lie in the heart of defence, where Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez's effective partnership was broken up due to serious injuries to both men against Sevilla.
Martinez is already confirmed to be missing the rest of the season with a metatarsal fracture, but Ten Hag has not ruled out the possibility of Varane returning for the FA Cup final with Manchester City on June 3.
Ten Hag fielded Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw as his two centre-backs for the semi-final win over Brighton with Maguire suspended, but the Englishman is free to face Tottenham, who relieved Cristian Stellini of his duties after just 29 days as interim manager on Monday.
Ben Knapton
