High praise: Paul Scholes and Roy Keane hail Bruno’s contribution

Paul Scholes heaped praise on Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes after the Red Devils’ Premier League win over Newcastle on Sunday night. The former Sporting Clube de Portugal captain has been a revelation since joining Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer’s side just over a year ago. Such is his influence in England, that even Scholes, widely regarded as one of the best midfielders England has ever had, had to stand up and applaud.

Despite having a relatively quiet game by his lofty standards, Fernandes bagged a goal and assist to help Solskjaer's side see off Steve Bruce's strugglers to move back up to second in the league.

“Only Mo Salah has got more goals than him this season. The influence he has had on this team has been sensational. United could not create many chances or score many goals before Bruno’s arrival.“

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The fans and pundits are getting so accustomed to the Portuguese’s goals and assists on a regular basis, that a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win is no longer considered ‘massive effect’ by the member of Manchester United’s famous Class of 92.

“Fernandes didn’t really have a massive effect against Newcastle but they are the standards we expect from him now. Assist and another goal, the assist was lucky I suppose but he’s made a hell of a difference to this football team.”

It was the seventh league game in which Fernandes has provided a goal and assist this season, with no other player in the top five leagues registering the same tally, according to Opta. Not only he’s been setting the Premier League alight, but he’s also breaking club records. Just a few days ago, Bruno notched his 21st goal fo the season in the away win against Real Sociedad in the Europa League. That made him the midfielder with the most goals in a season for Manchester United. The previous record was 20, set in the 2002/03 season by – you’ve guessed it – Paul Scholes.

Paul Scholes and Roy Keane with the Champions League trophy in 1999 (©Reuters)

Another former United midfielder likes Fernandes. Roy Keane, who captained the Red Devils under Sir Alex Ferguson, singled out the former Sampdoria and Udinese man as the catalyst for winning – the same way enigmatic Frenchman Eric Cantona was for Manchester United team in the 1990s.

“The way Fernandes has played in the last 12 months, it feels a bit like Eric because it's his stage. Eric adored everything that went with playing for arguably the biggest and best club in the world. What you have to judge people on over a period of time is what they've won. Certainly, Eric for us, was the catalyst to go and win things.”

Fernandes and his team-mates are currently second-placed in the league standings. To become a true great at Old Trafford you need to win trophies. And Keane has challenged the midfielder to lead Manchester United to silverware to justify the praise he’s been enjoying.

"Fernandes has done fantastically well in doing that, it's his stage. For it to be even suggested that he's on the same level as Cantona is a wonderful compliment to him. Now they have to go and achieve and win things the way Eric did, and on big occasions win cup finals and semi-finals. If he does that then of course you can compare those two."

Fernandes will have a chance to further improve his tally this week with two big games coming up. Thursday will see Real Sociedad arrive for what should be a routine second leg of their Europa League tie before a huge matchup against Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.