Bruno Fernandes stepped up to produce for Erik ten Hag’s team as Manchester United needed a victory going into their match against Burnley on Saturday night.

It brought to mind Robin van Persie’s magnificent volley from Manchester United’s final championship victory ten years prior.

Even though United may not have a chance to win the championship this year, Bruno Fernandes’ breath-taking angled volley right before halftime could have a major impact on their season. Erik ten Hag reminded his team that nothing less than a win at Burnley would do after three straight losses, and Fernandes came through when United needed their leader the most.

When Ten Hag named Fernandes United’s new captain during their preseason tour of the US in the summer, there were raised eyebrows because the player was not immediately perceived as leadership material.

United have had some formidable skippers down the years, including Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Roy Keane, Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney, players whose commitment and desire could never be questioned.

Fernandes did not appear to follow that stellar lineage, not least after he lost the plot in United’s humiliating 7-0 defeat at arch rivals Liverpool last season, going missing like so many of Ten Hag’s side that day. His penchant for histrionics when decisions go against him, along with his propensity for going to ground too easily, hardly marked him out as the outstanding candidate to inherit the armband from Harry Maguire.

Yet here, moments before half-time, with United having been outplayed by Burnley for much of the first-half, Fernandes showed in a split second why he is fit to lead Ten Hag’s side, with a finish few players would have the vision and technique to execute.

There seemed little danger when Jonny Evans floated a speculative ball over the top of the Burnley defence towards Fernandes, particularly with the difficult angle facing the Portugal international.

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The decisive goal against Burnley was scored by Bruno Fernandes for Manchester United (Image: 2023 Allstar).

However, Fernandes demonstrated that he has the ability to turn a game on its head in a flash, much like Van Persie did against Aston Villa at Old Trafford in 2013.

Van Persie watched Rooney’s pass all the way before slotting it into the goal first time with an unstoppable combination of technique and strength.

Another former United captain, Rio Ferdinand, who was commentating on the match for TNT Sports, commented, “That is what captains do.” They step up when you need something exceptional in crucial situations.After such a dismal start to a season filled with so much hope and anticipation, the goal proved to be the foundation for a crucial win for United, one that has relieved Ten Hag and his players of some of the burden.Four losses in their first six games was not the plan for Ten Hag and his team, who finished third last season and broke United’s six-year trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup.

Erik ten Hag knew his side needed a result at Turf Moor ( Image: Will Palmer/Allstar)

But this win has at least given them some respite from that calamitous start and, with their next five games against Crystal Palace – in the Carabao Cup and Premier League – Galatasaray, Brentford and Sheffield United, the opportunity to turn a corner and make progress is there.

In mitigation, Ten Hag has been operating against the backdrop of a huge list of enforced absences, with players missing either through a combination of injuries and off-field issues.

The lack of personnel at Ten Hag’s disposal was underlined by the fact Evans, back at United on a one-year deal, was handed a first start for the club since March 2015.

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