Bruno Fernandes beats Declan Rice to Premier League player of the season – UK Times

Bruno Fernandes has pipped title-winner Declan Rice to the Premier League player of the season award after a sensational individual campaign.

The Manchester United talisman has produced a season for the books, equalling the assist record of 20 that was first set by Arsenal great Thierry Henry in 2002/03 before Kevin De Bruyne notched the tally for Manchester City in 2019/20.

The Portuguese international could yet take the record for himself on the final day as United travel to Brighton, with third place in the table already secured.

Fernandes’ main competition for the award was Arsenal midfielder Rice, who has been integral to the Gunners ending their 22-year wait for a Premier League title.

But after also being named the Football Writers’ Association’s men’s footballer of the year – the first United player to claim the accolade since Wayne Rooney back in 2010 – Fernandes has so far edged out the England star for individual prizes.

Fernandes also boasts eight Premier League goals to his name this term, racking up a total of 28 goal contributions across 37 games to help guide a resurgent United team to Champions League qualification.

Such an outcome looked unlikely when Ruben Amorim was sacked in January, the club struggling to inspire in sixth place.

However, Fernandes’ performances were consistently strong even through that period of team adversity, and he has remained a standout during the club’s rise up the table under Michael Carrick, who will be kept on as permanent manager beyond the end of this season after initially being only hired on an interim basis.

This news would have pleased Fernandes, who backed Carrick to turn United into title contenders at the FWA awards.

“I hope he’s one that can take us back to the top of the Premier League because this is what all the players want,” he said.

Fernandes topped an eight-man shortlist that also included Arsenal’s Gabriel and David Raya, Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo, plus Brentford striker Igor Thiago, and Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.