Bruno Fernandes celebrates after scoring for Manchester United against Real Sociedad at Old Trafford.
Bruno Fernandes has been excellent for Manchester United recently.
With a crop of players due to return from injury in the coming weeks, Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim could find the task of selecting his starting XI difficult.
United, prior to the international break, found themselves down to the bare bones at times, losing several key players at various junctures.
However, there is a strong chance the likes of Altay Bayindir, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo will be back soon. Some of them may even be back in time for Tuesday night's trip to Nottingham Forest.
One player Amorim has been able to rely on in recent weeks, though, is Bruno Fernandes. The United skipper signed off for the final international break of the season in sparkling form, scoring seven goals in seven games.
He has consistently got United out of trouble in recent weeks and his hat-trick against Real Sociedad at Old Trafford just over a fortnight ago could be significant in the club's quest to end the campaign with a trophy.
What has been all the more impressive about Fernandes' recent upturn in form is that he has been operating from a deeper position. Originally deployed as one of the two No.10s in Amorim's trademark 3-4-2-1 formation, the Portuguese international has been deployed as one of the No.8s in recent weeks, developing a solid partnership with Manuel Ugarte.
Renowned as a seasoned architect, who creates and scores goals from an advanced midfield position, Fernandes, even prior to Amorim's appointment last November, had displayed the characteristics and qualities to operate from deep.
He started in a deep-lying midfield position for United when they beat Everton 2-0 at Old Trafford in March last year and had a brilliant game, dictating proceedings, creating chances and producing five key passes. He also scored from the penalty spot.
He later admitted in an interview with Portuguese publication A Bola that he could envision himself establishing himself in that role, saying: "In terms of passing, game organisation, defence, tactics. I have a little thought in my head that I'm going to end my career further back, because everyone who started there and went to No.10 ended up retreating on the field at the end.
Bruno Fernandes has been in inspired form in recent weeks. (Image: Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images.)
"It's a position I like, playing deeper, facing the game more. With the ball, it makes my game a lot easier because I have a broader view of the game and it is ideal for what we've talked about with the last pass, which can sometimes come from deeper on the pitch.
"The game with Everton was the one in which I created the most scoring opportunities, even though I was playing deeper and not playing as a No.10."
Despite not turning 31 until September, there is an argument to suggest Fernandes has already made that transition. He has influenced games a lot more since the switch.
Following Ugarte's addition it was presumed he would form a partnership with Mainoo, with Fernandes operating just ahead of them in the 4-3-3 system that United formerly operated in under Erik ten Hag. Amorim's appointment in November, of course, saw United's shape change, but the belief was that Ugarte and Mainoo would continue as a paring.
Prior to his injury, particularly in the 2-0 win over FCSB in the Europa League at the end of January, Mainoo was excellent as one of the two No.10s, being able to influence games a lot better than he had been doing as a No.8.
Few anticipated Amorim would make a positional switch involving him and Fernandes, but it was one that quickly paid off. With Fernandes having gone up through the gears during Mainoo's absence, there is a very good chance the latter's route back into the starting XI could be via one of the two No.10 positions.
Why change something that is working so well?