Former Manchester United defender David May has likened Bruno Fernandes to Eric Cantona and Paul Scholes following his electrifying start to life in the Premier League.
Fernandes has quickly established himself in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team and boasts a terrific return of seven goals and seven assists from 12 appearances in the English top flight.
May, who won two Premier League titles during his time at Old Trafford, believes that Fernandes is priceless to this United side and is in league with some of the club's most influential playmakers.
"You couldn't put a price tag on Fernandes now – he's become that vital to United in the space of a few months," May said in quotes attributed to The Mirror.
"Eric was the catalyst for much of what United achieved in the years after he helped them win that first title in 1993. His whole mentality changed United's dressing room at that time and he drove them on.
"Fernandes is doing the same now. He's only been there a few months but already he's the boss – the players follow his lead.
"Like Cantona, Fernandes is the missing part of the puzzle and he's made everyone better. And the fans love him because he's a grafter, not a prima donna. He plays for the badge, not himself.
"I remember Scholesy saying he could sometimes see a pass even before he had the ball, he instinctively knew where it was going.
"Some of Bruno's creativity at Crystal Palace was just fantastic – linking play, having the vision to play defence-splitting passes, and assisting in both goals.
"I can see Scholesy in a lot of what Fernandes does for United. In his pomp Paul dictated the tempo, he could speed it up or slow it down, he could play a blind pass and score – and Bruno does all of that.
"And maybe the greatest compliment I could pay him is that Sir Alex Ferguson would have loved him in his team."
United will continue their quest for silverware on Sunday when they face off against Chelsea in the last four of the FA Cup, with the two sides battling to set up a final date with Arsenal on August 1.
Ben Knapton
