Wayne Rooney believes Michael Carrick may soon be forced to drop Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United's starting line-up, saying the captain looks "fed up" with the burden of carrying the team.
Fernandes has not been the dominant force he was last season, when he produced nine goals and 22 assists in 37 games. The 32-year-old also hit double figures for goals and assists, across all competitions, in each of his five full seasons at Old Trafford before that.
Yet outside of a hat-trick against Ipswich Town and a goal against FK Sabah in the Champions League, the United captain has struggled to exert his influence on games this term. That has played a part in the team's struggles, with the Red Devils winning just two of their first eight matches of the campaign.
Rooney: Fernandes needs help
Rooney, United's all-time top goalscorer on 253, reckons Fernandes is "fed up" with Carrick being so reliant on him to produce moments of magic. For the No.10 to get back to his match-winning best, the former skipper thinks Fernandes may have to spend a game or two on the bench.
The Portuguese playmaker was moved out of his preferred role against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night, with Youri Tielemans operating in the advanced midfield role and Fernandes moved out to the right.
Though Carrick's side played well, United ultimately lost 2-0 in the Spanish capital, with Mbeumo and Fernandes wasting goalscoring opportunities at the Wanda Metropolitano before Leny Yoro's red card.
Carrick told to bring freshness back
Speaking on Amazon Prime Video's pre-match coverage, Rooney said: "I think he's fed up. For so many years now he's been the one player who has stood up and he's been the talisman for Manchester United, he's the one who has scored goals in big games and had the big moments."
"Obviously he played here last season. Now he needs help. He needs other players to step up and take that pressure off him. He's probably there thinking, 'Oh here we go again.' He deserves better. He deserves more."
"He doesn't miss a game. It might take Michael Carrick having to take him out of the team for a game or two to bring that freshness back into him, that energy back into him, to start seeing the levels we saw from him last season."
Young: Other players need to chip in
Rooney added of Fernandes' struggle for form: "When Michael Carrick came in last season, he got moved forward into a No.10 position and for me that's where he's most dangerous. He didn't have to track back all the way but still worked hard."
"He had that freedom to create chances. He got on the end of [chances] and created a lot of assists. The structure of the team, if he's playing from a wide role, he is very dangerous in that inside right role."
"Steven Gerrard used to do it really well, Jordan Henderson did it really well when he was younger, in that inside right getting crosses in the box. What that means is a [Marcus] Rashford getting in the box, getting more players in the box, whether it's [Youri] Tielemans now and getting on the end of it. If he has that structure, which he should have tonight, behind him, it gives him that freedom to go and be more creative."
Another former United man, Ashley Young, agreed with Rooney. He explained: "A lot is put on Bruno Fernandes because he's the standout performer. If he performs, Manchester United perform."
"Whether he's carrying an injury or a knock... He went into the international break with that [injury concern]. But every player has to stand up, not just Bruno Fernandes. We know what he gives. He's fantastic for this team, he's their world-class player that everybody looks to. But other players need to chip in so it's not just down to Bruno."
