Bruno Fernandes has spent three years playing for Manchester United and he's won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award twice, so it perhaps feels wrong to consider him an unsung hero but that description might be appropriate this season.
An unsung hero is someone who does great deeds but receives little or no recognition and Fernandes' performances have been praised during this campaign, of course, although there is a case to be made that he's still been underappreciated.
Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Marcus Rashford are all in contention for the Sir Matt Busy award and rightly so, but Fernandes has been equally important to a side that has defied expectations at the halfway point of the Premier League season.
ALSO READ: Shoretire joins Bolton Wanderers on loan
Erik ten Hag's first year at the club was supposed to be a transitional campaign, a season to reset and reshape the squad in the Dutchman's vision, and yet United are third in the table and firmly on course to secure Champions League football.
Last year was a train wreck at Old Trafford and returning to the Champions League so quickly after that utterly miserable campaign will be an achievement, despite the club investing over £200million in new recruits in the summer.
Those players, particularly Martinez and Casemiro, have been lauded for the difference they have made, but Fernandes, who was certainly not exempt from contributing to last season's failure, has been among the most consistent performers.
There were signs of the midfielder returning to his best at the beginning of the campaign and he's now flourishing with Ten Hag in charge. Fernandes' importance to the side can't be understated and his absence is truly felt when he doesn't play.
Fernandes served a one-match suspension against Aston Villa in November after picking up five yellow cards and Unai Emery led his side to a 3-1 victory in his first game at Villa Park, which preceded the 28-year-old's return to the side to play Villa again.
After that disappointing performance, United had the opportunity for revenge against Villa in the League Cup at Old Trafford, just a few days after the initial meeting, and it was a game in which Fernandes scored and assisted in a comfortable 4-2 win.
That improvement in fortunes didn't feel like a coincidence on his return to the team. There were doubts about whether Fernandes would work in a three-man midfield, but he's been able to play his usual proactive role in the system to great effect.
Casemiro has brought some much-needed balance to the midfield and that has given Fernandes the licence to roam forward and drift between spaces without fear of leaving his teammates vulnerable, which they were before the Brazilian's arrival.
Ten Hag has also used Fernandes on the right wing in four matches this season and the player has obliged, despite repeatedly declaring his preference to play through the middle.
It feels a waste to have Fernandes on the right, where he is often less involved, but he played in that position in the Manchester derby and Ten Hag said 'he played that role brilliantly' while also saying he was 'definitely' worthy of the man of the match award.
Fernandes found the back of the net against Crystal Palace on Wednesday, scoring the opener with an outstanding, powerful finish before half-time at Selhurst Park, and that was his 100th goal contribution for the club in 153 appearances
That goal also meant he's now scored 40 Premier League goals for United and Paul Scholes (107) is the only central midfielder in the club's history with more, which highlights the quality Fernandes has produced since signing in January 2020.
The initial fee of £46.6million that was paid to Sporting Libson three years ago was remarkable value and Fernandes is undoubtedly the most successful signing from the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era, which saw a catalogue of dubious transfer decisions.
The new signings have stolen the limelight this season but Fernandes' contribution has been just as important.
READ NEXT:
