Lineker Tipping Fernandes to Claim Player of the Season Crown Ahead of Arsenal Pair

Gary Lineker has backed Bruno Fernandes to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League Player of the Season accolade, suggesting the Manchester United captain could outshine Arsenal's Declan Rice and Gabriel Magalhaes in the race for individual honours.

United's recent upturn in fortunes has been nothing short of remarkable since Michael Carrick assumed interim control. The former midfielder has steered the club to three consecutive victories, including impressive scalps against Manchester City and Arsenal before dispatching Fulham on Sunday.

Fernandes has been instrumental in this renaissance, providing four assists across Carrick's opening three matches. The Portuguese midfielder's season tally now stands at five goals and 12 assists from 21 Premier League outings, a return that has caught the attention of the Match of the Day presenter.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker outlined his reasoning: "If United continue to go really well and Bruno gets a few more goals and assists… I mean, who else would be in the running? There's no one obviously at the moment but he's a bloody good footballer you know, Bruno Fernandes. He's a really good player."

He acknowledged the broader contenders for the award, including Erling Haaland should the City forward rediscover his goalscoring touch, alongside Rice and Gabriel, whom he described as "a fantastic defender."

Micah Richards echoed the sentiment, highlighting how Carrick's tactical adjustments have benefited the United skipper: "He's a top, top player. The manager is playing him in the right position and he's shining. Even when United weren't doing great he always stepped up with something."

The nine-point haul from Carrick's first three games has propelled United to fourth in the table, keeping their Champions League aspirations alive. Yet Lineker urged caution about the interim manager's future, suggesting patience is warranted before any permanent appointment is confirmed.

"What a great start for Michael Carrick, it's great for him and a real lift for the club the way it's started," Lineker reflected. "I can't see there's any real point of making a decision before the end of the season. The sensible thing would be to wait until the end of the season and see how it goes and then look at the situation. But he's done everything right so far. He's clearly an intelligent guy, we could see that by the way he played. It's a really, really good start."