Bruno Fernandes can be Manchester United’s answer to Kevin De Bruyne after an impressive debut against Wolves, according to Danny Higginbotham.
The Portugal midfielder was pitched straight into the starting line-up for Saturday’s clash at Old Trafford, just over 48 hours after his €55 million (£46m/$61m) switch from Sporting, report agencies.
Fernandes played the full 90 minutes but was unable to create many clear-cut opportunities as the Red Devils were held to a goalless draw.
The 25-year-old spent the first half playing as a No.10, before dropping back in the second half to try and dictate the play from a deeper role.
And Higginbotham says that ability to play in both key positions draws comparisons with how De Bruyne is deployed at Manchester City, though he is keen to stress they are players with different attributes.
"I’m not saying him and De Bruyne are the same players. But at times last season and earlier this season, City played more of a 4-2-3-1 with De Bruyne as a No 10 and we have also seen De Bruyne in a more retracted position in a 4-3-3. Fernandes also has the ability to play in both positions," Higginbotham told The Sun.
“The one thing United struggle with is creativity and that is probably why they are better on the counter-attack.
“In Fernandes they now have a player who can dictate either from deep or from higher up the pitch, depending on what the game demands.
