'I have to improve' - Man Utd captain Bruno Fernandes agrees with critics over shocking start to new season as wait for goal goes on

Fernandes has linked up with Portugal for the international break on the back of a dire week for United, in which he was sent off in back-to-back games. Having been shown a straight red card against Tottenham, which was later rescinded, he was shown two yellow cards against Porto in the Europa League.

Fernandes' form this season has also been hit, with the 30-year-old only contributing one Premier League assist in seven games. Now, though, he has vowed to improve once he returns to life under the embattled Erik ten Hag.

Speaking to O Jogo, Fernandes said: “When I spoke about the bad moment, it was in relation to the two expulsions in the same week, which I thought were unfair. The first was withdrawn and the second, because it was a yellow card, was not, but these are things that are part of football and I can’t think about that. I took responsibility for that moment, because especially against Tottenham I left my team-mates with one less player chasing the result.

“But it’s not just about the national team, which is where I feel increasingly good and where I can enjoy my football due to the dynamics and quality that I have by my side. At the club, I have to improve as soon as I get there, the goals will come and I also have to take responsibility for that, because I have scored a high level of goals in recent years and I also have a ‘standard’ that I want to maintain, I hope to score as soon as I get there to help the club return to winning ways and to the best level.”

United return to action against Brentford in the Premier League on October 19. They are currently 14th in the table after winning only two of their opening seven matches.