Paul Merson compares Man United's Bruno Fernandes to Man City's Kevin De Bruyne

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Paul Merson has claimed that Bruno Fernandes can be for Manchester United what the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Bernardo Silva have been for Manchester City.

Fernandes only joined United in January but has already had a major impact on the team, directly contributing to seven goals from nine appearances and picking up the February Premier League Player of the Month award.

The Portuguese playmaker has widely been credited with turning the Red Devils' fortunes around, and Merson is confident that he can continue to lead an improvement when football resumes.

"I think they'll be better, no doubt about that. What they have to be is consistent. Against the bigger boys, teams that come and have a go, they're a better team, playing counter-attacking football, but you have to mix it up. When you become a better football team, teams kick off and put 11 players behind the ball and do that counter-attack to you," the Arsenal legend told Sky Sports News.

"What you need is players like Bruno Fernandes who can get on the ball and find a pass. When you have 60, 70% of the ball, you need players who will put the ball through the eye of a needle. Man City have been successful because they have players like David Silva, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne.

"What I like about [Fernandes] is that whenever he gets the ball, first he looks forward. He always wants to look for that forward pass. I always look at players, especially when they're going to a massive club like Man Utd, and how they lift the club. You have to be a special player to go to a club with international footballers and lift other players along the way. I think that has happened.

"When you get players on the same wavelength, it's a different situation. When you're playing in front of 70,000 people, people have to remember that when you have a couple of bad passes, the name of the game is to keep on wanting the ball to make those passes.

"A lot of players hide, and sometimes don't even realise it. With him, he doesn't, he keeps getting it and giving it to people. They're not 60 yard passes, he just gets it through the lines. I think he's been outstanding, and I've loved watching him."

Fernandes is yet to finish on the losing side for United, winning six and drawing three of his nine games.