Ruben Amorim’s preparations for his first game as Manchester United head coach have been boosted by the early return of midfielder Bruno Fernandes from international duty.

Fernandes played 90 minutes and scored in Portugal’s 5-1 win over Poland on Friday, booking the team’s place in the quarter-final of the Nations League in the process.

However, 25 minutes into the game, Fernandes picked up a yellow card which, coupled with his caution against Scotland in September, means he must now serve a one-match ban and sit out Monday’s visit to Croatia.

As a result, Fernandes has been released from the Portugal squad and will now return to Manchester for his first meeting with new boss Amorim.

“We want to continue on the same path,” Portugal manager Roberto Martinez said after the Poland game. “We made a lot of changes in the first stage. We need to recover and protect the players.

“And we are going to release four players; Bernardo Silva, Pedro Neto, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes, who was booked.”

It is the perfect scenario for United fans, who watched on as Fernandes’ impressive upturn in form continued without any fitness concerns, with his early return meaning he will now receive more rest and benefit from more time under the new manager.

Amorim’s first outing at United’s helm comes on November 24 with a trip to Ipswich Town.

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