Scholes: Fernandes looks like a special talent

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes does not often get carried away, yet he cannot help but feel excited by the quality that January signing Bruno Fernandes is bringing to the squad.

The Portuguese playmaker was signed from Sporting Lisbon just under a month ago and has already made a big impact, scoring two goals, registering two assists and winning three Man-of-the-Match awards.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has heaped praise on his performances and the players are all in agreement that the no.18 is something special, while supporters are constantly chanting his name at matches.

That was especially noticeable at Old Trafford on Thursday night, when Bruno’s name bellowed around the stadium as United turned on the style to beat Club Brugge 5-0 in the Europa League.

Scholes was at the Theatre of Dreams in his role as a BT Sport pundit and, as arguably the finest passer in the club’s history, he was perfectly placed to pass comment on the man who is wearing his old shirt.

“He looks a special talent and looks like he can be a hero of the fans as well,” said Paul. “He has got the right name for it, with the song and stuff. But then you think of Eric Cantona and Wayne Rooney, these people who are idolised by the fans, and you hope that in the future he can become as good as them.”

Scholes is widely regarded as one of the most gifted and intelligent players in the Reds' illustrious history, with some of the most iconic names in world football credited as members of his fan club.

A huge part of the midfielder’s craftsmanship on the pitch was his complete awareness of those around him and, as he explained on Thursday night, Fernandes appears to have that same gift.

“Awareness was drummed into me by Eric Harrison,” said Scholes, referencing the late coach who educated him in United's youth system.

“In that position, whether you are a number 10, a number eight, all of the numbers you give, I don't care about all of the numbers, if you are playing in that position then you need to know where everyone is on the pitch. Bruno has got that. He has got everything sorted before the ball gets to him and it makes everything quicker. It is difficult to defend against.”

While assessing the impact that Fernandes is making on Solskjaer’s young and improving United side, Scholes explained how the diminutive Portuguese could take the club to the next level.

“Do you know what, sometimes it can take just one player to make a team click and he looks like that player,” said the club legend. “We knew there were good players there, but I think this player will make those around him look better.

“When you look at the great teams, look at City in the last eight or nine years with David Silva, he has made them play football and makes good players around him, he feeds them and just makes the team tick. Kevin De Bruyne is taking that mantle over now with City.

“When you think of all of the great teams here, with Cantona playing in that number 10 role, making the team play, then Teddy Sheringham doing it, Dwight Yorke to a certain degree as well. All of these great teams have a great link between the midfield and attack.

“Look, it is early days and we don't want to get too carried away, it was Brugge at home. But to me, he [Fernandes] just looks like the type of player who can knit the full attack of a team together.”