On par with Fernandes: Man Utd star is becoming "one of the best in the world"

After Michael Carrick’s temporary appointment as Manchester United manager, very few fans would have predicted the incredible run of form the first team were about to endure.

The 44-year-old has so far taken charge of four Premier League matches, winning all four – including a huge win over bitter rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford.

Such a run has led the Red Devils to fourth in England’s top-flight, subsequently sitting just three points behind Aston Villa, who occupy the place directly above them.

Carrick’s decision to switch back to a 4-2-3-1 system has no doubt aided the recent run of form, with such a formation one the club utilised before Ruben Amorim’s tenure.

However, it’s allowed one player in particular to thrive, as seen by the remarkable numbers he’s produced since the former player took the reins last month.

Bruno Fernandes’ remarkable rise under Carrick

During the Amorim era at United, club captain Bruno Fernandes was often asked to operate in a deep-lying midfield role rather than his preferred number ten position.

The Portuguese international still managed to be the club’s shining light, as seen with his tally of 37 goal contributions, but it no doubt took away from his quality in the final third.

Carrick’s arrival has seen the Red Devils’ number eight shift further forward, which has enabled him to play a key role under the temporary manager over the last few weeks.

In his four appearances since his appointment, Bruno has registered as many assists, subsequently taking his tally to 12 in the Premier League alone this campaign.

He also managed to find the back of the net in the recent triumph against Tottenham Hotspur, with his strike putting the gloss on a fourth successive win for the Red Devils.

The 31-year-old has undoubtedly, once again, been one of the leading stars within the first-team ranks, with the club undoubtedly lucky to have a player of his quality.

Man Utd star is becoming one of the best alongside Fernandes

There’s no denying United have fallen way below the standards expected of them by many in recent years, as seen by their dismal finishes in the Premier League.

The Red Devils have finished eighth or lower in each of the last two seasons, with their 15th-place finish last campaign being their worst since the Premier League’s formation.

However, it hasn’t been through a lack of trying, with the hierarchy splashing the cash – as seen by their £800m spending spree since the summer of 2022 alone.

Man Utd’s most expensive signings of all time

A number of their additions haven’t lived up to expectations.

A lot of the funds have been spent on players well below the levels expected, but the same can’t be said for attacker Bryan Mbeumo, who has hit the ground running in Manchester.

The Red Devils forked out a reported £71m for the Cameroonian’s signature, but such a fee now appears to be a bargain given his recent efforts at Old Trafford.

He’s been forced to operate in various positions since his big-money transfer, but like Bruno, he has operated in a more natural role at the top end of the pitch.

The 26-year-old has now started every game since Carrick’s arrival, with the continued faith shown in him by the manager allowing him to reach incredible levels.

He’s now found the back of the net in three of the four matches Carrick has taken charge of to date, with his strike against Spurs last weekend taking him to nine league goals this season.

His underlying stats from the current campaign also highlight his importance to United, with the attacker already cementing himself as one of the club’s most important players.

Bryan Mbeumo – PL stats (2025/26)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	20
Goals & assists	10
Shots on target accuracy	53%
Conversion rate	32%
Chances created	1.6
Crosses completed	35%
Pass accuracy	79%
Touches in 18-yard box	5.1
Fouls won	1.2

Mbeumo has achieved the best shot on target accuracy rate of any player in the senior ranks, along with the best conversion rate – which no doubt highlights his clinical nature in the final third.

He’s also created 1.6 chances per 90 this season, whilst completing 35% of the crosses he’s attempted – subsequently ranking him in the top 5% of all players in the division.

Given his recent form at Old Trafford, the Cameroonian has received huge praise from multiple journalists, with Umir Irfan labelling him as “one of the best in the world”.

The combination of him and Bruno within the final third at Old Trafford has certainly been one that has got supporters excited over the last couple of weeks – with their respective numbers showcasing their talents.

The prospect of the duo starring alongside one another for years to come is one that could certainly hand United the tools they need to compete in the Premier League, whether that be under Carrick or any new manager.