By 90min | Created at 2024-11-23 11:53:31 | Updated at 2024-11-23 15:00:48
3 hours ago
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has singled out Bruno Fernandes as the player his team must stop when his side meet Ruben Amorim's Manchester United at Portman Road on Sunday.
Until becoming Ipswich boss in 2021, McKenna was at United for more than five years, spending the latter of that time as an assistant coach with the first-team.
Ahead of facing his former club, in what will be Amorim's first game in charge of the Red Devils, the 38-year-old has admitted a lingering fondness for the people he worked with and spoke particularly positively about Bruno Fernandes as both a person and a player.
He also highlighted that the Portuguese playmaker will need special attention from his Ipswich side, acknowledging they must keep him as quiet as possible.
"A top, top professional and a really good human being," McKenna commented.
"I know he's followed [Ipswich's] progress really carefully over the last couple of years. It's not always that you leave a club and have such fondness for the players and staff there. I'll enjoy seeing him on Sunday, but only after the game.
"It's full eyes on trying to stop him being at his most effective best."
Bruno Fernandes has returned to form in recent weeks / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages
Fernandes, like many in United colours, struggled for form earlier in the season but the captain has started to find his feet in the past month or so.
Having set up the winning goal for Rasmus Hojlund against Brentford with an exquisite and clever touch, the Portuguese went on to score or assist in each of Ruud van Nistelrooy's four games in charge. Now, he links up with compatriot Ruben Amorim, who is tipped to revolutionise the way United play with a switch into a 3-4-3 formation.
United will get natural width from wing-backs, which could be the reprieve that Antony needs if training highlights are anything to go by. Two central midfield positions in the system will likely primarily go to a combination of Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte, which gives Fernandes the freedom to play as one of the attacking trident.
However, that creates its own problem, with Amorim also having wide forwards Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo at his disposal too.
