Bruno Fernandes: What has happened to the form of Man Utd's best player - and should Michael Carrick drop him?

A day before Manchester United's trip to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, the club issued a statement on captain Bruno Fernandes. It spoke of an "injury niggle" but stressed there was "nothing to worry about". His performance on the night suggested otherwise.

Perhaps the reference to an injury was meant to mediate the criticism that has begun to engulf last year's Premier League player of the season. His form has become an unexpected problem for Michael Carrick, a manifestation of where Man Utd stand more broadly.

So often United's saviour, Fernandes is currently his side's scourge, the issue being that if he is not contributing offensively, he offers virtually nothing else. Clearly it is not the 32-year-old's role or repertoire to be combative against the ball. But United's fragility means they cannot afford to carry passengers either.

Is it too early to push the panic button?

To bomb Fernandes off to the bench would be a bold call from Carrick. For starters, who would replace him? Mason Mount would be the obvious choice. Matheus Cunha can also play as a No 10. Both would be experimental choices in choppy waters. Sunday's trip to Leeds, live on Sky Sports, will be considered must-win.

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Of course, Carrick must also weigh up the significance of dropping his talisman, United's best player, and the one individual who, through all the turmoil, has shown himself to be the true embodiment of Old Trafford heart and tradition.

If such a decision backfires, Carrick opens himself up to even greater criticism. There is no easy answer.

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Truthfully, though, Fernandes has looked off it all season. Perhaps his legs were drained at the World Cup this summer. Maybe he is playing close to the pain barrier. More likely, the burden of responsibility is weighing heavy. The inescapable millstone of Manchester United Football Club.

This prolific provider is tired. Tired of being the only thread of positivity. Tired of being the one whose performance is so tangibly linked with the outcome of games. And the player who, in his role as captain, has to face media critics when those outcomes are unsatisfactory.

"Maybe they need to take Bruno off because he's not having the best game," said former captain Wayne Rooney at half time in Madrid. And yet, if Carrick was betting on one player to summon the spark, the moment of quality, needed to get back into a hostile game at the Metropolitano it would be Bruno.

Fernandes has played 96 per cent of all available minutes under Carrick. He's only been subbed off three times - against Man City, Liverpool and on Tuesday at Atletico - and all after the 81st minute. He's only been benched once, in the EFL Cup against Brighton in September. Carrick cannot cope without him.

But the manager will be the first to recognise his captain's dip. Beyond productivity - it took Fernandes a remarkable 23 minutes to complete his first pass against Tottenham last weekend - the body language is equally unhelpful. All the usual posturing is back: an outpouring of frustration in physical form.

The full spectrum could be seen in Madrid. Hands on face. Hands on head. Hands on hips. And finally, hands together, clapping a weary fanbase whose energy and patience for what they are watching seems to be wearing ever thinner.

Naturally, all of this brings deeper issues to the surface, encapsulated by an extraordinary rant from Lisandro Martinez on Tuesday. His comments criticising the club's hierarchy went viral as quickly as they left his mouth.

Ultimately, Martinez was only voicing what most observers believe to be true. Manchester United's squad is short of the talent and depth required to compete three times a week. Fernandes' form is symptomatic of that unfortunate fact.

While one side of Manchester is being (rightly) torn apart for spending too much, the other is being materially charged with spending too little. That is not Carrick's fault, but the failing of, as Martinez eloquently put it, "the upstairs".

The consequences of a reluctance to invest beyond tunnel vision on defensive midfielders are being uncovered on the pitch. The physical damage is most obviously visualised by those who are being overplayed as a result. But the hope and optimism with which this campaign began has quickly eroded, too.

Lose to battle-hardened Leeds at Elland Road this weekend and full crisis mode will commence. Daniel Farke will try to play on such delicacy. And why shouldn't he? Leeds enter this fixture ahead of United in the table for the first time since September 2002. Few Premier League opponents are so enticing right now.

Because if Bruno Fernandes is not able to deliver Manchester United from their own indisposition, then who will?

Watch Leeds vs Man Utd live on Sky Sports on Super Sunday from 1pm; kick-off 2pm

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