Bruno Fernandes has quickly become the first building block in Manchester United’s rebuild

Bruno Fernandes has fit right in since joining Manchester United in January, but his production is only one piece of the overhaul needed at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hasn’t fielded so many questions about Paul Pogba of late. After all, the Frenchman hasn’t been so notable in his absence following the January signing of Bruno Fernandes.

Manchester United’s midfield has, for the majority of the season, been an incoherent mess. Now, though, with Fernandes pulling the strings it has become a fully functioning unit.

The Portuguese international has made an instant impact at Old Trafford. Indeed, Fernandes is already United’s most influential player, the man who sets the pace for everyone else around him. This has been evident in Fernandes’ first few performances for his new club. Solskjaer has already started to build around him.

“He felt like a presence in the group from the first minute, a bit of a mix between Scholes and Veron – the temperament of Veron and a lot of the quality of Scholesy,” the Manchester United boss explained in a recent interview. “The fans are used to players with that personality, mentality and quality. We have got the number 10 position nailed down now. He is a big piece of what we are trying to put together. In today’s market, I think we got a good deal. He has given everyone a boost.”

It can be difficult to truly nail down what Fernandes’ position is in United’s team. At times, he plays as a number eight, driving the ball forward from deep in much the same way Kevin de Bruyne does for Manchester City. At other times, he makes late runs into the box, like the one that resulted in the award of a penalty in a 3-0 home win over Watford.

Fernandes is also capable of playing as more of an archetypal number 10, positioned on the edge of the opposition penalty area. Manchester United have desperately lacked a player of this mold in recent times, struggling to break down opposition sides that employ a low defensive block. Recent results against Watford and Club Brugge at home suggest Fernandes has at least gone some way to addressing this deficiency.

In many ways, Fernandes is the player Pogba was widely believed to be. There has been much misunderstanding over the Frenchman’s qualities as a player since his world-record transfer move to Old Trafford in the summer of 2016, but as a ball-carrying creative influence the Portuguese has quickly usurped the injured Pogba.

Somewhat ironically given the presumption that Pogba will move on at the end of the season, the signing of Fernandes could prove to be the catalyst the Frenchman needs to turn around his Manchester United career. There is a partnership to be forged if he wants one. The support system, particularly with Fred in good form and Scott McTominay back from injury, is finally in place to get the most out of Pogba.

Fernandes might look the part, like a cross between Paul Scholes and Juan Sebastian Veron according to Solskjaer, but Man Utd’s decision makers still shouldn’t be let off the hook. The Portuguese midfielder was available in the summer for essentially the same price United paid for him six months later. Imagine how many more points they might have picked up over the first half of the season with Fernandes in the team. Ed Woodward and Co. wasted valuable time in signing a player who was clearly suited to Solskjaer’s side.

United still need another four or five like Fernandes. The Portuguese must be considered the first building block in a comprehensive rebuild of the playing squad at Old Trafford. The summer signing of Jack Grealish, Jadon Sancho and a new center-forward, as has been rumored, would represent a continuation of a much-needed process.

As good as Fernandes is, as influential as he has become in the space of just one month, Man Utd’s reconstruction must consist of much more.