Fernandes started in Portugal’s 1-0 win against Wales on Thursday night and was replaced by Joao Neves in the 90th minute.
During his press conference on Saturday, Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus said that Fernandes has been suffering from a ‘complicated problem’.
Portugal travel to Norway for their next Nations League game in Oslo on Sunday night, but Fernandes was absent from the team’s final training session on Saturday.
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Jesus has revealed that Fernandes had been playing with an injury for Manchester United in recent weeks and could now be rested ahead of the national side’s Nations League game against Denmark next Thursday.
‘In the game against Wales, we went in with all the available players but Bruno Fernandes came off with a complicated problem,’ Jesus said during his press conference on Saturday.
Cristiano Ronaldo gave the captain’s armband to Bruno Fernandes during Portugal’s 1-0 win over Wales on Thursday night (Reuters)
‘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.
‘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.’
