‘Putting the cones down & handing out bibs’ – Bruno Fernandes told role he’d play in legendary Man Utd squads alongside David Beckham, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes

Former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp believes the Portuguese midfielder is the closest player United have to being a "superstar" but back in Ferguson's pomp, he had top players "everywhere". Redknapp added that the 30-year-old "wouldn't have a prayer" of getting ahead of the likes of Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, and more, and he'd more likely be "putting down cones" than getting game time.

He said in a column for The Sun: "I like manager Ruben Amorim but it will take years to turn them [Man Utd] around... if it can be done at all. It has become a great club in name only. You’d look at the United of Fergie’s day and see superstars everywhere. Amorim would love just one. Bruno Fernandes is the closest and even then no more than a place in the squad. He wouldn’t have a prayer of making the team. Who would you drop? Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, Roy Keane, Paul Ince, even Nicky Butt or Darren Fletcher? Not a chance. If Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struggled to get a game, Fernandes wouldn’t get beyond putting the cones down and handing out bibs. And I tell you what — if Bruno and Co had been at United when I was managing, I’d know all about winning at Old Trafford."

United captain Fernandes has been the club's star player in recent times, getting them out of trouble on a number of occasions with his goals and assists. But the Red Devils have fallen a very long way since Ferguson's Halcyon days, with their wait for a Premier League title set to stretch to 12 years. In Redknapp's eyes, the fact that Fernandes is United's best player is a scathing indictment on the club.

United will need Fernandes to be on top form when second-placed Arsenal visit Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.