Bruno Fernandes will not travel to Oslo. Portugal’s head coach Jorge Jesus said the Manchester United captain is dealing with an issue he has been trying to play through since before the international break.

Jesus set out the situation at his pre-match press conference on Saturday.

“In the game against Wales, we went in with all the available players but Bruno Fernandes came off with a complicated problem,” Jesus said.

He then filled in the timeline.

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“The other case 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.”

The decision, Jesus said, was to protect Fernandes for Portugal’s next Nations League fixture rather than risk him in Oslo.

“I’ve already spoken to him and I prefer not to risk it in this game so he’s fully fit for the Denmark match.”

Playing through pain since before the break

Fernandes was in Portugal’s squad, started against Wales on Thursday and was replaced in the final minute of the 1-0 win. He is the Manchester United captain, and in a season in which the club has taken five points from its opening five Premier League games, most of the questions about United’s slow start have come back to him.

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Portugal have not named the injury

Jesus ruled Fernandes out of Norway to keep him available for the Denmark match, which points to a short absence rather than a serious lay-off. He did not specify a muscle, a scan result or a fitness test, and neither the player nor the federation has named the injury.

United host Tottenham at Old Trafford on 10 October.

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