Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes is one of several Portuguese players set to be sent home early from the international break.
Fernandes played the full 90 minutes and found the net for Portugal during the side’s convincing 5-2 win against Sweden on Thursday.
The United skipper has not picked up an injury but is instead being rested by Portugal ahead of their second friendly against Slovenia on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old is not expected to return straight to Manchester and is likely to be afforded a few days off before preparation ramps up for the Red Devils’ trip to Brentford in just over a week’s time.
Alongside Fernandes, Manchester City duo Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva have also been sent home, as have Wolves defenders Nelson Semedo and Toti Gomes.
‘It’s important to work on different concepts, especially because Slovenia has a very similar structure [to Sweden], also with two strikers, so the players who leave are all taken care of,’ Portugal manager Roberto Martinez explained.
‘There are another eight players who will arrive at a high level for the second game, with hunger and a lot of energy, I hope.’
With an extended break, Erik ten Hag will hope to have his captain back to full sharpness for United’s crucial run-in.
The midfielder is still yet to miss a game for the club through injury but said his ‘lungs were on their last legs’ following United’s FA Cup win over Liverpool last weekend.
United will take on Coventry in the cup semi-final next month and currently sit nine points off the top four.
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