Manchester United might finally have the perfect formation for Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes celebrated two years as a Manchester United player last weekend, but at Old Trafford tonight he could still experience another first: partnering Paul Pogba in a 4-3-3.

Ever since Fernandes' immediately announced himself as the answer to United's lack of creativity, the dilemma as to how to get them both he and Pogba the same team in positions where they can influence the game has been as a source of debate.

There have been two brief spells when Fernandes and Pogba have co-existed successfully.

The first, at the start of Project Restart, had Pogba alongside Nemanja Matic in a 4-2-3-1 and the second, just over a year ago, came with Pogba moved to the left of the front three.

Both were fleeting successes. Those heady summer days of June and July 2020 quickly dissipated early in the following season, when the Pogba-Matic axis was carved open by good teams. The World Cup winner was effective from the left in the winter of 2020/21, but that was only ever a short-term solution.

Fernandes' performances since his move from Sporting Lisbon have marked him out as United's main man in midfield, with Pogba having to take a backseat. He was never a natural fit as one of the double pivots in Solskjaer's 4-2-3-1 — structural issues always bubbled under the surface.

Solskjaer began this season wanting to move United into a 4-3-3, but he never felt emboldened to actually make the change. Over the last three games Rangnick has grasped the nettle and United have looked better for it, with Scott McTominay as the holding midfielder.

Pogba has been out injured since November 2 but he's back in training for a while now and should be fit enough to return from the start against Middlesbrough tonight. With Fred having represented