As Manchester United’s revival under interim head coach Michael Carrick continued with a 2-0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur, so too did Bruno Fernandes’ hot streak, on a milestone afternoon for the Red Devils’ talismanic captain.
In making sure of the points with an 81st-minute strike, Fernandes reached 200 goal contributions for Man Utd in 314 appearances.
In doing so, the 31-year-old has achieved that feat quicker than previous Old Trafford greats such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs; during the Premier League era, only Wayne Rooney has racked up 200 goal involvements for Man Utd in fewer matches than Fernandes.
Six years into his Man Utd career, Fernandes is enjoying some of his best-ever form, taking his combined Premier League goals and assists tally to 18 this season – and placing the Portuguese star second in the top flight, behind only Coca-Cola Golden Boot leader Erling Haaland.
Fernandes has scored or assisted in every match this calendar year, including setting up two crucial goals in Man Utd’s dramatic 3-2 victory at home to Fulham last Sunday.
Topping the 2025/26 Premier League assist charts with 12 – twice as many as any other player bar Rayan Cherki, who has seven – Fernandes has a number of records in his sights.
Three more assists will draw him level with David Beckham for the most by a Man Utd player in a Premier League campaign; eight more in the remaining 13 matches and he’ll equal Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry’s shared all-time record of 20.
Fernandes might also be eyeing up his own previous best of 30 Premier League goal contributions which he registered back in 2020/21, his first full season in England.
Ticking along at a rate of 0.81 goal involvements per game this term, he’s on course for 28 as it stands this time around.
Man Utd are now one win away from five successive league wins – something they’ve not achieved since February 2024 – and their highly influential No 8 is spearheading their charge towards UEFA Champions League qualification and, who knows, perhaps even greater heights.
Man Utd fans are beginning to dream again, and the Carrick-Fernandes axis is central to the renewed optimism sweeping across the red side of Manchester.
Watch: Every Bruno Fernandes goal and assist under Carrick
The change in the Old Trafford dugout hasn’t suddenly re-activated Fernandes – he was one of the few shining lights under Ruben Amorim – but with Carrick at the helm, he’s well and truly the heartbeat of the team.
That much was plain to see on Saturday, as Fernandes was involved in 14 of Man Utd's 23 shots – the most by one player in a Premier League match since Bukayo Saka for Arsenal against Southampton in October 2024.
Carrick has put Fernandes’ marked recent influence down to the “freedom” he’s giving his skipper, deploying him in his preferred No 10 slot – a welcome by-product of reintroducing Kobbie Mainoo after he had been frozen out by Amorim in favour of playing Fernandes in a deeper midfield role.
Speaking ahead of the visit of Spurs, Carrick explained: "Bruno can just create moments. He’s bright. I think that little bit of freedom suits him. He’s got a natural brain."
Reacting to Man Utd’s latest success, Fernandes echoed his head coach's sentiments. "This is football – it changes from one game to another," he told TNT Sports.
"Michael came in with the right ideas of giving the players the responsibility but also giving the players the freedom on the pitch, making the decisions."