The best signing of post-Ferguson erá by a distance ..Bruno has been worth every cent of the €77M that he cost Man Utd

IF DAY IS DARKEST JUST BEFORE DAWN, SKIPPER FERNANDES HAS BEEN A SHINING BEACON AT OLD TRAFFORD

- BY RYAN MCDONALD

LEAVING Turf Moor last month, Bruno Fernandes joked he couldn't speak to journalists because he “makes too many headlines".

But Fernandes is splashed on the back pages for the right reasons.

Manchester United's captain is enjoying another wonderful season.

The Portuguese has recorded the most assists in the Premier League this season (12) and has created more chances than any player in Europe's top five leagues. The 31-year-old did not record a goal involvement against West Ham, ending a run of five successive games in which he'd contributed a goal or an assist, but he celebrated Benjamin Sesko's late equaliser as if it was his own, frantically waving his arms as he screamed 'YES!' at the away end.

Fernandes has produced the goods consistently since his arrival from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020, and he is rightly regarded as the standout signing in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

The midfielder has made 315 appearances for United, scored 104 goals, contributed 99 assists and won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year four times.

Fernandes has single-handedly won games for United.

He is a leader in the dressing room. He makes time to pass on advice to academy prospects.