Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is reportedly close to having to consider Bruno Fernandes' status as an untouchable starter, according to reports. However, despite the United captain's below-par start to the season, Ten Hag isn't expected to axe him in Sunday's Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
Fernandes has looked out-of-sorts at the dawn of the campaign, failing to score and registering just one assist in five league games.
He also frustrated supporters with his display in Wednesday's Europa League draw against FC Twente, intensifying the debate about his security as a consistent starter.
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United host Tottenham at Old Trafford this weekend, with wins becoming more important with every underwhelming result.
The Red Devils could enter the match as low as 12th, having won just two and losing as many in their five league openers.
Fernandes is among the players under pressure to deliver, and he is expected to get the chance to do so against Ange Postecoglou's side.
According to GIVEMESPORT, Ten Hag is considered unlikely to drop the 30-year-old from his starting line-up and will instead trust him to rediscover his best form.
However, the report adds that the Dutchman is close to having to consider Fernandes' status, with supporters growing impatient.
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Fernandes signed a new United contract in the summer, committing his future to the club until 2027 to end transfer uncertainty.
The Portuguese maestro was the subject of strong interest from multiple clubs, including Bayern Munich, and in Saudi Arabia.
His decision to remain at Old Trafford was unsurprisingly celebrated, given he has scored 79 goals and registered 70 assists in 241 appearances.
But Fernandes' early-season woes have prompted worry that he's entering the end of his prime years and could soon become another problem that INEOS have to fix.
Fernandes has been United's headline star since his January 2020 arrival, and his decline or exit would represent a daunting void to fill.
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Club figures will hope that Mason Mount can overcome a challenging start to life in Manchester and grow into a worthy successor.
The 25-year-old endured an injury-stricken maiden year after switching from boyhood club Chelsea in a £60million deal.
He has also missed most of the current campaign so far through a hamstring problem but returned to the pitch in Wednesday's draw against FC Twente.
But Fernandes wouldn't have penned a new deal in M16 if he didn't believe he had more to give, and there will be confidence that he can recover from his slow start.
