You only have to rewind to last month to find a time when there was a debate over whether Manchester United would be better off without Bruno Fernandes, with Erik ten Hag launching a defence of his Portuguese midfielder.
Fernandes' poor form last season went slightly under the radar, given the faults elsewhere in the team, and during the pre-season tour of Australia, he bristled at suggestions that his style might clash with Ten Hag's new ethos.
The attacking midfielder has been a high-risk playmaker, which when it comes off can make him a major creative force, but when it doesn't can lead to criticism.
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In the summer, Fernandes insisted he could hold on to the ball when required, with Ten Hag's style built around possession, but his start to the season suggested the acclimatisation wasn't coming naturally.
His first 13 games of the season for United produced just one goal and one assist, but gradually he has started to find his form under Ten Hag, with two goals and an assist coming in his last seven games before the season paused for the World Cup.
Fernandes played some of those games from the right of the front three, shuffled into the unfamiliar position due to Antony's injury and with Donny van de Beek earning chances under Ten Hag.
The performances of Van de Beek reminded United just what they had in Fernandes. The Dutchman was timid and struggled to influence games in the advanced midfield position. When Fernandes returned to that role against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup, he scored one and set up another.
He's carried that form to international duty with Portugal, scoring twice in a pre-World Cup friendly against Nigeria and then creating two goals in the 3-2 win against Ghana.
The 28-year-old deftly sidestepped questions about Cristiano Ronaldo while in the Portugal camp, but it's no secret he's looked more influential at United without his countryman in the side, a factor that doesn't seem to be as prevalent for the national team.
It's been an issue for United, however, and Fernandes' relatively poor campaign in 2021/22, when his Premier League returns dropped from 18 goals and 12 assists to just 10 and six respectively, coincided with the return of Ronaldo. Most of his better performances this season have come without his countryman in the team.
With Ronaldo having now left Old Trafford, it might liberate Fernandes even more, at a time when it has looked like his best form is returning. His link-up play with Antony Martial has looked good on the brief occasions we've seen it.
If Fernandes does return to United close to his peak form then he might slot into what will be United's best and most complete midfield in close to two decades, since the days when Sir Alex Ferguson could call on players of the quality of Paul Scholes, Roy Keane and, later, Michael Carrick. A trio of Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Fernandes tick every box as a complete unit when at their best.
So far this season we've seen Casemiro and Eriksen lighting up games for United. With Fernandes now finding that level once again, the signs are good for Ten Hag.
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