United suffer blow as Mazraoui exits, after Bruno quits Portugal
By BEN WILLCOCKS, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR, 29 September 2026, Manchester United’s injury list grew on Tuesday night when Noussair Mazraoui was forced off during Morocco’s 2‑0 win over Lesotho, coming just days after captain Bruno Fernandes withdrew from Portugal’s squad for the Norway clash because of a ‘complicated’ shin problem.
The incident occurred in the 68th minute of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Mazraoui dived for a tackle, landed awkwardly and immediately signalled to the bench, clutching his lower back before medical staff assessed him and he left the pitch.
Paris Saint‑Germain’s Achraf Hakimi came on as the replacement full‑back, taking over the duties for the remainder of the match.
Mazraoui's injury on Tuesday
Bruno Fernandes’ withdrawal from Portugal’s squad was confirmed after manager Jorge Jesus described the issue as a ‘complicated’ shin problem. Jesus told a press conference on Saturday that Fernandes had been playing with pain for the last three games, which hampered his performance against Wales.
‘In the game against Wales, we went in with all the available players but Bruno Fernandes came off with a complicated problem,’ he said during Portugal's press conference on Saturday, before the United captain withdrew from the squad. ‘We’ll see what happens until tomorrow. Experience tells me that on the third day not all players manage to recover but that’s the same for Norway as for us. However, the player who comes in gives as many guarantees as the one who might come off, that’s what I’ll base my decision on. ‘The medical team identified these two players as the most concerning, Nuno Mendes could be available for the game. ‘The other case [Fernandes] involves treatment and recovery time. He’s coming off an injury at United, and he told me he’s been playing with that pain for the last three games, which is hindering him. ‘It was one of the factors that prevented Bruno from playing at his best against Wales.’
Michael Carrick now faces a depleted roster. The Red Devils have already been without Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo, Benjamin Sesko and Patrick Dorgu when Fernandes went down, and the Mazraoui setback adds to his concerns.
Carrick will hope Rashford and Mainoo recover in time for United’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on 10 October, while the fitness of Fernandes remains uncertain after Jesus admitted he has been playing with pain since the season began. Man United’s staff will monitor the situation closely.
Since taking charge this summer, Carrick has secured only one win in five matches, with United having drawn 1‑1 against Fulham and faced bottom‑placed Hull City and Ipswich Town. He now looks ahead to a hectic eight‑day spell in October that includes fixtures against Tottenham, Atletico Madrid and Leeds United.