INEOS should assemble a team for Bruno Fernandes to excel, showcasing his influence in Manchester United.

By now the routine goes that when Manchester United play poorly, pundits usually pick out Bruno Fernandes for criticism.

He’s not a leader; he moans too much; he’s not tactically disciplined; the level of criticism levelled against him rarely ceases.

And yet in light of United’s dismal 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, in which they were outplayed for large spells, Jamie Redknapp went against the grain and came to Fernandes’ defence.

‘But if I was coming into the club or if it’s the manager Erik ten Hag, if he keeps his job – he’s the sort of player you’re looking build the team around. He’s the player. He makes things happen.’

His brace at Bournemouth took Fernandes to 12 goals and nine assists this season – nobody has more assists and only Rasmus Hojlund (13) has scored more.

The issue is that Fernandes is demonstrably frustrated when things go wrong and it is often misunderstood. He cares deeply; it hurts him when United lose.

‘What the frustration comes from is that I don’t think people care as much as he does,’ Redknapp argued.

‘I see that as an epidemic at the club where people don’t really do enough – do they really care? 

‘Do they go flying into tackles? He, on the other hand does, and I think he sometimes gets himself into situations that he probably shouldn’t. 

‘But I tell you what he cares about his club, his team, he’s pulled his team back into that game.’

It is true that at Manchester United the light shines brighter than it does anywhere else in English football.

Every miss-step becomes a catastrophe and every goal can get millions of views. It’s one extreme to another. One thing you can’t do as Manchester United captain is operate in the shadows.

Fernandes never hides, even his fiercest critics will accept that, and the reality is if there was as many players in that team who care as much as Fernandes, perhaps United wouldn’t find themselves floundering as badly as they are.

‘Scoring twice, very creative, it’s true he gives a lot of energy to the team,’ Ten Hag told the BBC after the Bournemouth draw.

‘He is acting as a captain, bringing the energy and we are very pleased with this.

‘We are all disappointed but he expresses that feeling. We have to win our games and we have dropped too many unnecessary points in the last few games.’

It was telling that Fernandes has become so used to being targeted for criticism that he got visibly emotional when praised by a reporter for his dedication after the Red Devils’ dramatic 4-3 FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool recently.

Fernandes played all 120 minutes of that tie, which was won at the death by Amad Diallo, starting in his usual midfield position before drifting into a defensive role as fatigue and injury kicked in.

‘You’ve been a kind captain there, giving everybody a bit of praise, so I’m going to give some to you,’ the MUTV reporter said.

‘You are always available for this team. You always give everything that you can physically. It is appreciated by the fans all the way around the stadium. I hope you know how much you are loved by the fans.’

Taken aback by his words, Fernandes replied: ‘I appreciate that. You’ve got me a little bit emotional because there are good and bad moments, but I am always there for them.’

On pure talent Fernandes is the best player United have. No question. But there are question marks about how he is being used.

A player that thrived in a No 10 role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is now trying to do too much in one of the Premier League’s most dysfunctional midfields.

He wants to press, then drop deep, then drift out wide, then take the set-pieces; he cannot be expected to do it all.

That will be the challenge to INEOS and United’s football operations team – which is still hoping to add Jason Wilcox and Dan Ashworth this summer.

Find a way to build around the strengths of Fernandes, United’s misunderstood superstar. Fail to do so and the dysfunction looks here to stay.