Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce is unsure about comparisons between former Manchester United teammate Eric Cantona and Bruno Fernandes.

The impact Fernandes has made has been likened to when Cantona joined the Red Devils nearly 30 years ago, with the Frenchman's signing often hailed as the final piece of the jigsaw that preceded a period of sustained success.

"What you have to judge people on over a period of time is what they've won. Certainly, Eric for us, was the catalyst to go and win things," Bruce said ahead of Newcastle's trip to United on Sunday evening.

"The way Fernandes has played in the last 12 months, it feels a bit like Eric because it's his stage. Eric adored everything that went with playing for arguably the biggest and best club in the world.

"Fernandes has done fantastically well in doing that, it's his stage. For it to be even suggested that he's on the same hymn sheet as Eric is a wonderful compliment to him.

"Now they have to go and achieve and win things the way Eric did, and on big occasions win cup finals and semi-finals. If he does that then of course you can compare him to Eric."