Gary Neville highlights Bruno Fernandes’ hidden impact on Manchester United

Gary Neville hailed Bruno Fernandes’ impact on Manchester United and explained how his pace of work made them better on the defensive.

The Portuguese midfielder won the Premier League Player of the Month awards in February and June after joining Sporting Lisbon in January.

Fernandes has been a revelation since his arrival and his impact on Manchester United’s midfield and attack cannot be overstated.

Since Fernandes made his debut, no Premier League player has recorded more than his 14 contributions on goal, with teammate Anthony Martial second on that list alongside Mohamed Salah with 10.

Fernandes was not at his best during the United draw with Southampton on Monday evening, but Neville was still full of praise for him during the game for the defensive work he does.

“It’s not rocket science. The best players work hard when their team doesn’t have the ball, as they do when their team has it, “said Neville.

“They’re always the first to react and set the tone – that’s what Fernandes did. He’s making sure everyone around him is more careful in their defensive work, as well as pasting the attacks.”