sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Paul Scholes Explains Why Bruno Fernandes Should Not Win Player Of The Year

Paul Scholes Explains Why Bruno Fernandes Should Not Win Player Of The Year

"At Man United you are there to win titles and big games and he has to be a bigger influence."

Alex Reid

Alex Reid

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has explained why Bruno Fernandes is not worthy of winning Premier League player of the year awards this season.

Although Scholes calls the 26-year-old a special talent, he claims Fernandes needs to be "a bigger influence" to inspire his side to win matches against the best teams in the league.

But Scholes did admit that the problem is partly the way Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are forced to play in those big games, as United's central defenders need extra protection from midfield, holding Bruno back.

"What he's brought to this United team... has been special," Scholes told Optus Sport about the Portuguese playmaker.

"He creates goals, scores - not in the big games! - but in a lot of them. Ultimately, at Man United you are there to win titles and big games and he has to be a bigger influence than that.

"I could give him a bit of an excuse with United's centre-halves - to me, they need protecting too much, especially in the big games, against proper forward players.

"[The central midfielders] sit too deep and he doesn't get the support from the midfield players, which is important to him... He needs bodies around him to take people away, so he can come into spaces."

Scholes, who won 11 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues at Old Trafford, adds another factor to why Fernandes shouldn't be scooping the PFA award this season. That, in his opinion, a Manchester City player should win it.

"He should be right in the mix [for PFA Player of the Year], there is no doubt about that, but I am always a believer the best players are the players playing for the team that wins the league," says Scholes.

"And there are a few City players I'd go for before Bruno."

Fernandes is currently favourite with the bookies to scoop the PFA award, having scored 15 goals and racked up 10 assists in the league alone this season. That makes him by far the biggest goal contributor in the Premier League this term.

However Scholes' fellow pundit, former Liverpool and Man United striker Michael Owen, came up with a trio of City players who he sees as potential winners

"The likes of [Ilkay] Gundogan, [Ruben] Dias, [Joao] Cancelo spring to mind," Owen told Optus Sport.

"Looking further down, I think Jack Grealish has had a brilliant season. Off the top of my head, they would be my few."

Do you agree with Scholes and Owen that the likes of Gundogan and Cancelo should be ahead of Fernandes in the player of the year honours? Let us know in the comments.

All imagery: PA Images

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Bruno Fernandes, Paul Scholes, Manchester United, Premier League