'Part of the problem' - Bruno Fernandes Man United worry made clear in brutal Ruben Amorim warning

Former Manchester United player and assistant coach Mike Phelan is unsure just where Bruno Fernandes fits in at the club as Ruben Amorim prepares to start work on the team.

Fernandes, who had only scored once under Erik ten Hag this season before he was sacked, has three in just two games under Ruud van Nistelrooy. Despite continuing to have a key role at Old Trafford, where he is now captain after Ten Hag made him a public leader of the side, Phelan still has doubts over how he can thrive in a system.

Under Amorim, who had not arrived at Sporting CP before Fernandes left to join United in January 2020, United are expected to shift dramatically into a 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 shape. With a pair of narrow No.10s instead of wingers - the wing-backs will be tasked with holding the width - Fernandes looks set to be used in a slightly different position.

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He has maintained a strong level of output throughout his career, though, and will be keen to build on a mini-run of form under interim boss Van Nistelrooy. For Phelan, the answers to the great Fernandes debate are not clear. “They’ve got to find a way of getting the best out of Bruno," he said in an interview with the Athletic.

"I think they’re still juggling with that. Is he part of the answer, or is he part of the problem? I don’t know. It’s about trying to make him a little bit more aware of the job at times.”

Fernandes, whilst a keystone moving forward, has been criticised for a lack of defensive know-how, effect in a press, and also of taking matters into his own hands