Fernandes: The trophies, the assist record and his future

Breaking news from the world of sport: Fernandes: The trophies, the assist record and his futureImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes has created 29 'big chances' so far this seasonBySimon Stone Manchester United reporterPublished1 minute agoManchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has not come close to winning the Premier League or Champions League since joining the club in 2020. He did lift a couple of domestic cups under Erik ten Hag - and if United finish third this season, it will be a position they have only bettered once during Fernandes' time at Old Trafford. But it represents a meagre return for a player many argue is United's best signing since legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, and someone, they argue, who deserves a place among the club's best in the Premier League era.

On Friday, he was named the Football Writers' Association's footballer of the year. But Fernandes is not one for coveting individual awards. When he spoke to the media in October, he said: "I don't see it that one player is better than another because he wins more trophies.

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Not every time the best player in the world is the one that wins the Ballon d'Or. "I want to win trophies. I want to be recognised by the many good things I did for the club, for bringing something back to the club, not just my individual numbers.

"United will not win a trophy this season, but there are still a couple of significant milestones ahead of Fernandes. He needs just one more assist to equal the individual Premier League record of 20 in a single campaign - jointly held by Arsenal great Thierry Henry and former Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne. Fernandes is eight clear of Manchester City's Rayan Cherki in the Premier League's assists chart this season, with West Ham's Jarrod Bowen third with 10 assists.

Beating the record clearly means a lot to Fernandes, who will be a key part of Portugal's World Cup squad this summer. So much so, one of his United team-mates told him he felt Fernandes would previously have taken a shot against Brentford recently, rather than set up striker Benjamin Sesko. Fernandes rejected that notion.

Reactions and Expectations

Fernandes is also favourite to win the prestigious PFA Players' Player of the Year award, which Henry and De Bruyne both took twice. Despite the lack of major trophies, would the assist record and another player of the year award confirm his status as one of the most creative forces of the Premier League era? Assists don't always win prizes...

The 'assist king' tends to be thought of as a creator. The reality is slightly different. In the past five seasons, Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has had the most assists twice, and strikers Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) and Harry Kane (then of Tottenham) have done it once each.

None of that trio would be regarded as a creator in the mould of playmaker De Bruyne, who finished top on four occasions. Maybe a better comparison with Fernandes in terms of prizes won would be Cesc Fabregas during his time at Arsenal.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.