Manchester United ace Bruno Fernandes can prove Erik ten Hag theory correct vs Aston Villa

It’s been evident this season that Manchester United can be a unified force when all the cogs are in the right place - but that they also have a tendency to crumble when certain players are missing.

The Reds greatly felt the recent absence of top scorer Marcus Rashford, and did even more so when Casemiro was suspended. But perhaps United arguably look most bent out of shape when Bruno Fernandes is not present.

The fear surrounding his potential unavailability against Tottenham when pictured in a boot brace told the story. The Portugal star ultimately kept up his phenomenal feat of not missing a United game through injury when he made the line-up in London.

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The de facto captain - who has ten goals and 14 assists so far this term - has started every game he’s been available for this season bar one; the League Cup quarter-final against Charlton. There’s no doubting how important Erik ten Hag feels he is to his set-up.

This was first depicted back in November when United fell to a 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa on Unai Emery’s debut. Fernandes was banned for the trip due to a yellow card suspension and if there is a criticism of the playmaker, it would be to tighten up his discipline in that regard.

He has missed six games for club and country in the last four seasons due to yellow card bans, including two this season, which is unnecessary for an attacking midfielder. But at Villa Park five months ago it was clear United were devoid of ideas going forward.

Maybe the selection of Donny van de Beek and Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t help the cause but it was a stark reminder of how much Fernandes brings to the attack. United are now in a different place and