Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo have shown Manchester United new attacking blueprint

The sight of Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo sprinting off to celebrate with their arms wrapped around each other was one Manchester United fans expected to see a lot of this season.

But when the United teammates raced towards the corner flag of the Estadio do Dragao on Tuesday night after combing to set Portugal on their way to the World Cup, it felt oddly unfamiliar. Fernandes has created three of Ronaldo's 18 goals for United this season, although the last time it happened was on November 2 when United drew against Atalanta in the Champions League.

None of Fernandes' nine goals for United have been assisted by Ronaldo, so seeing the 37-year-old tee up his international teammate in Porto was an unusual sight. They combined well for much of the evening, however, and in an attacking 4-3-3 system that gives hope that United could yet reprise a similar approach to get the most of a partnership that should, in theory, flourish at club level as well.

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How long Ronaldo remains at United is something of an unknown at the moment, but it's still hard to envisage him not being there next season. And if he can start to find the same tune with the club's most creative player at Old Trafford, it will only be good news.

Fernandes has tended to operate more as a second striker for United but for Portugal his position hasn't been as well defined and he's actually struggled to force his way regularly into the side. He was dropped during the European Championship last summer and hasn't always looked a natural fit in that team.

But he started both Portugal's crucial World Cup play-off fixtures in this international break and the