UNITED SKIPPER FERNANDES LIFTS WEIGHT OF EXPECTATION

SOME of the United players sense Ruben Amorim leans on his compatriots and keeps a distance from others in the squad.

- By SAMUEL LUCKHURST

However much Amorim leans on Bruno Fernandes, the Reds captain continues to withstand the weight of expectation.

When United resume their season after the March internationals, it will likely be Fernandes' 278th appearance for the club. An unremarkable number. But the same number of appearances as Luke Shaw.

Shaw, signed in June 2014, made his United debut in September 2014. Fernandes debuted on February 1 2020. In between those dates, there were three general elections in the United Kingdom, the Brexit referendum and two prime ministers left 10 Downing Street.

"He's always available," Amorim enthused about Fernandes. Shaw never is. Amorim put it mildly when he opined that United 'need more Brunos.

The United captain has missed two games through injury in his career. A handful of United sceptics believe the club will never become a credible force with Fernandes in the side.

There is possibly something in that. Fernandes is a moments player. Like a carefree golfer at a driving range, he will keep aiming for the pin, overhitting or underhitting. Sometimes, he will eventually hit it.

City gave serious consideration to signing Fernandes in 2019 but passed at the 11th hour. Liverpool tracked Fernandes but one of their senior scouts concluded he ceded possession too often. Those two clubs have been England's only title winners since 2018.