Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes helped Portugal secure a 2-1 victory over Norway in the UEFA Nations League in Porto yesterday.
With Cristiano Ronaldo absent from the squad, Fernandes once again stepped up to lead his country.
Portugal manager Jorge Jesus deployed the United midfielder as a left attacking midfielder rather than in his preferred central role in a 4-1-3-2 formation.
Despite being asked to operate in an unfamiliar position, Fernandes still found ways to influence the game when Portugal needed him most.
The United skipper showcased his vision early on, controlling a long pass in his own half before threading a perfectly weighted ball through to Nuno Mendes.
Fernandes was equally impressive with his distribution, completing all four of his long passes and recording an 85% passing success rate.
He also completed six passes in the final third before being withdrawn during injury time.
There is now an expectation for Fernandes to score or assist in almost every game, but that is simply unrealistic.
If anything, those expectations underline just how high the standards have become for the United captain.
Fernandes missed one of Portugal’s four games during this international break due to fitness concerns.
United head coach Michael Carrick will be delighted to see his talisman back to full fitness with a demanding run of fixtures on the horizon.
The Red Devils face six games in just 21 days this month, leaving Carrick with little room for error.
After a disappointing start to the season, the United manager desperately needs results to swing in his favour and lift the mood around Old Trafford.
Stats from Fotmob.com
