Fernandes is the favourite to win POTS. (Image: 2024 Manchester United FC)
The voting for the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award officially opened this week.
Manchester United have endured an abysmal Premier League season, but someone will be named POTY and Bruno Fernandes is the hot favourite to claim the prize for a second successive year.
Fernandes won the award for a third time last season and is looking to emulate David de Gea and Cristiano Ronaldo, who are the only players to have won the prize on four occasions.
Most believe Fernandes is a shoo-in for the award and you certainly wouldn't bet against him winning it again. Fernandes has continued to be a driving force in a struggling team this season and United might have been dragged into a relegation scrap without him.
And would United be in the Europa League final without Fernandes? He has contributed seven goals and five assists in the competition, including a brace against Athletic Bilbao.
Fernandes will be remembered among the greatest United captains when he eventually leaves the club. He is a Bryan Robson-esque figure and would be a worthy winner of POTY again.
Yet there could be a cat put among the pigeons if Amad can sprinkle some magic in next week's Europa League final. Amad was a leading contender for the POTY award until he sustained an ankle injury during training in February.
It's easy to forget that Amad had arguably become United's most important player in the winter. He scored the matchwinner against Manchester City in December, the equaliser against Liverpool at Anfield and netted a sensational 10 minute hat-trick against Southampton.
Amad has looked sharp since his return.
Amad's momentum was disrupted by injury, but any concerns that he'd take a while to get up to speed after his return have been made to look pretty daft over the last three weeks.
He scored off the bench against Brentford at the Gtech Stadium, doing brilliantly to create an opening, and he was the gamechanger when he came on against Bilbao at Old Trafford.
His performance in the second leg helped United kill the tie at a time in the game when Bilbao were pushing to extend their 1-0 advantage. It was also the type of display that will make it impossible for Ruben Amorim not to start Amad against Tottenham in the final.
Amad is far too influential to be named on the bench at the Estadio de San Mames and, if he delivers in the final, he could win the POTY award from Fernandes.
The POTY award will not be on Fernandes' or Amad's mind. They will be focused on winning the Europa League, but it might not be the one-horse race that most believe.
Amad has consolidated himself as a star this season after being in and out Erik Ten Hag's starting team. It would be fascinating to hear why Ten Hag overlooked him so often, as that decision has become even more confusing.
Sources have always maintained that Amad is an elite trainer during sessions at Carrington, so the Dutchman's decision to overlook him must have simply been due to his perceived level.
Ten Hag's assessment of Amad was wrong and the youngster will be ready for the Europa League final. He seems to embrace the biggest stage and could end the season on a huge high.