7M - Bruno Fernandes Eyes Premier League Assist Record

Bruno Fernandes has emerged as one of the Premier League's standout players since Ruben Amorim's departure as Manchester United head coach. Since then, he has recorded at least one assist in every match, totaling six assists over five games.

This brings Fernandes' season total to 12 assists in 21 league appearances, placing him at the top of the Premier League assist leaderboard and inching him closer to a historic record.

The current all-time assist record for a single season is 20, held by Thierry Henry from the 2002-03 season and Kevin De Bruyne from 2019-20. With 14 matches remaining, Fernandes would need to secure 8 assists in those games to tie the record, or 9 to surpass it. Given his recent performance and the pivotal role he plays in Michael Carrick's revamped United squad, there is every reason to believe he can achieve this.

A key factor in Bruno's success is his proficiency at set-pieces. As United's main free-kick and corner specialist, he has helped the team become the league's best at converting set-pieces, aided by powerful aerial threats like Harry Maguire, Casemiro, and Matthijs de Ligt.

Historically, players who have chased this record have had strong finishes to their seasons. For example, Henry's record year included 8 assists in his last 5 games. Conversely, many have struggled to maintain their early-season form; Mesut Ozil began with 16 assists but finished with just 19 due to a lack of contributions later in the season.

Assists are inherently unpredictable, relying on teammates to convert chances into goals. While Fernandes leads the league in both chances created and big chances created, the outcome ultimately depends on his teammates' finishing ability.

With three consecutive wins under Carrick's management, United is picking up momentum, providing Fernandes with the right environment to flourish. Nonetheless, breaking the assist record hinges on maintaining his form and ensuring his teammates can capitalize on the opportunities he creates. Whether they can do so remains to be seen.