'Fernandes delivered at a time when United needed him to'

![Bruno Fernandes — Premier League 2025–26

Appearances — 32 Goals — 8 Assists — 19 Key Passes — 101 Shots On Target — 22 Successful Dribbles — 15](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/.cBCEfGl4DXuYn5CX2Qdmw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEyMDA7Y2Y9d2VicA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/bbc_us_articles_995/0116939ce5baadfdc88a61fd0b360b8e)

[BBC]

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has won the Football Writers' Association's men's Footballer of the Year award.

Midfielder Fernandes has scored eight goals and provided 20 assists in 34 games across all competitions for the Red Devils this season.

There is no doubt United have given Bruno Fernandes a push to get this award.

They have been talking up Fernandes' claims and also ensured the Portugal playmaker was promoted through some recent media engagements.

However, this would have been pointless had Fernandes not delivered at a time in the season when United needed him to deliver.

In October, when Fernandes spoke about qualification for the Champions League, few thought it was likely.

In January, when technical director Jason Wilcox told the United squad that was the aim despite Ruben Amorim's dismissal, it seemed a tall order.

That they have achieved it with three matches to spare and could yet end the campaign nearer in points terms to the eventual champions than in any other season since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement 13 years ago, owes a huge amount to Fernandes.

![Most chances created in the Premier League (2025–26 season)

Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd) — 120 Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) — 65 Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea) — 64 Declan Rice (Arsenal) — 61 Anton Stach (Leeds) — 61 Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) — 60 Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) — 57 Rayan Cherki (Man City) — 56](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/0lfUstBD.3Ik2B33CHJOBA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTQ0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/bbc_us_articles_995/046658c3cb1ac89194507b02da0cedce)

[BBC]

Since returning from a rare injury against Burnley, Sunday's victory over was only the third match out of 16 in all competitions when Fernandes has not either scored a goal or created one.