Michael Owen has a theory behind Bruno Fernandes' yellow card against Bournemouth

Michael Owen has come up with a theory on Bruno Fernandes’ yellow card for Manchester United against Bournemouth.

On Saturday afternoon, United produced a dismal performance as they fell to a 3-0 defeat against Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

Towards the end of the match, with United 3-0 down, Fernandes was shown a yellow card for arguing with the referee.

As a result, the United captain will miss next weekend’s huge away clash against Liverpool after racking up five yellow cards.

Speaking to Premier League Productions, former Liverpool and United striker Owen said: “I wonder how many yellow cards he’s had for dissent and waving his arms about.

“Possibly you don’t fancy going to Anfield. I wouldn’t at the moment. I’m not sure you’re thinking of the next game when you’re in the thick of playing.”

He added: “He should be responsible, he should be a good ambassador, a leader for the team. We all know referees are clamping down on that and he gets booked an awful lot for a player who hardly puts his foot in and tackles really, he gets booked an awful lot.”

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Fernandes was also accused of getting booked on purpose by beIN Sports presenter Richard Keys, who said: “In that last ten minutes, United stopped playing. It could have been four or five. He, I think, knows that next week could be a bad day out for the football club.

“If we're all agreed that if he knew he got booked he would miss the game, then I can't think of any other scenario where I could allow him the room to manoeuvre on that and think 'it was a heated moment'. It wasn’t.”

Keys continued: “I think he knew he gets booked and I think he knew he misses the game. That for me sums him up. He's not a captain, he's not a leader. His position there has been question by proper Manchester United captains, people like Roy Keane, all season long.”