Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville says Bruno Fernandes has transformed the club.

The Portuguese midfielder proved instrumental in United's third-place finish last term, as well as their current run of seven games unbeaten which has lifted them to third in the table this season.

Neville said, “There's Paul Pogba, there's David de Gea, there's Maguire, they've all been captain of the team, [Edinson] Cavani with his experience.

“He (Fernandes) is the leader in that team, leader by example. Leader by what he does when he gives the ball away, he sprints straight after it.

“Every time the team are on the ball, he wants the ball. Every time he gets the ball, he wants to play a pass that matters.

“He's transformed, I'd say, the whole club from a point of view of if he doesn't play, it's a massive problem, and that's a big issue when you're almost reliant on him.

“Of all the midfield players they've got - [Donny] Van de Beek, Pogba, Fred, [Nemanja] Matic, [Scott] McTominay - he is just the one absolutely out there as the one of those three midfield players that pick themselves.

“Fernandes has been an absolute sensation at United - he's the leader of that team and if it's not him wearing the armband, he could be."