Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has made clear his immediate objective is to help the club rediscover its best form and push back up the Premier League table. According to reports, Fernandes believes Ruben Amorim’s side have what it takes to qualify for the Champions League this season and has expressed confidence United can climb into the top five and secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

Fernandes has publicly aligned himself with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s long-term vision for the club while insisting the squad can deliver in the short term. That belief marks a significant reset after a difficult previous campaign in which United finished 15th with 42 points, a tally described as closer to the relegation zone than the top five.

The Portugal international turned down a switch to Saudi Arabia in the summer, confirming he did not hesitate to snub the approach when United revealed their desire to continue working together. That decision underlined his commitment to remain at Old Trafford and to contribute to the club’s recovery.

Despite reported interest from clubs in the Middle East following a challenging start to the season, Fernandes has repeatedly indicated a desire to stay. He is not interested in a move away from Old Trafford but has admitted he will not cause any issues for the club if they decide to accept an offer for his services. While a transfer to Saudi Arabia is not thought to appeal to Fernandes, he would look for another club if asked to do so by United.

The message from Fernandes is straightforward: he has bought into the project and expects United to be competitive again. With ownership and leadership aligned on a plan, Fernandes has set clear short-term expectations for the squad to improve their league position and to re-establish themselves among Europe’s elite.

Manchester United suffered another fitness concern during the international break when Ayden Heaven was hurt while featuring for England’s Under-20s on Friday. The 19-year-old required notable on-pitch treatment but was able to continue to the end of the first half. He was replaced at halftime by Crystal Palace’s Eyimofe Jemide.

England Under-20s boss Futcher was optimistic in his post-match comments but offered limited detail on the issue. “He picked something up,” said the England Under-20s boss. “I don’t think it is too serious but we will have to see how it settles down.” Futcher stressed the need to monitor how the problem develops in the coming days.

The timing of the setback is problematic for Manchester United as they prepare for a high-profile Premier League meeting with arch rivals and reigning champions Liverpool next weekend. Ruben Amorim will be managing squad selection while already contending with a depleted defensive group. Lisandro Martínez remains a long-term absentee, having been missing since February, and Noussair Mazraoui is a doubt for the trip to Anfield after sitting out the 2–0 win over Sunderland before the international period.

There are no further fixtures for England’s Under-20s during the October break, which should give Heaven a window to recover ahead of the Liverpool match. Given the circumstances, he is unlikely to be in the starting XI, but if fit he would offer useful depth to United’s defensive options for the weekend fixture.

Manchester United’s long-standing record of including an academy graduate in every matchday squad for the past 87 years has emerged as a complicating factor for Kobbie Mainoo’s proposed January departure. Reports say Mainoo, frustrated by limited opportunities, is expected to push again for a move midway through the season, but his status as an academy graduate could work against a transfer, according to ESPN.

Squad turnover over the summer reduced the pool of senior graduates available to Amorim. The sale of Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea, combined with loan exits for Marcus Rashford and Toby Collyer and Jonny Evans’s retirement, leaves Mainoo as one of only two senior academy graduates in Amorim’s squad. Third-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton contributes to the tally and young defender Tyler Fredricson is an occasional feature in matchday squads, but options are thin.

In the 2–0 win over Sunderland before the international break, Mainoo was the sole academy graduate named in the matchday squad. Allowing the midfielder to leave would place heightened scrutiny on Amorim if the 87-year run were to end. “We want to maintain it,” Amorim said of the record recently. “The past of Manchester United is built on kids. I don’t want to be the guy that breaks that.”

United are preparing for crunch talks with Mainoo about his future ahead of the January transfer window. Striker Joshua Zirkzee is also seeking clarification over his role after tumbling down the pecking order; he has managed just 82 minutes of playing time across all competitions this season.

Both players are anxious about their international prospects ahead of next summer’s World Cup, with neither earning a place during the current international window. There is reported interest from Serie A: Napoli have been linked with Mainoo and Zirkzee has been identified as a target for Juventus. Those external enquiries add urgency to the internal discussions the club must hold in the weeks before January.