Manchester United’s Benjamin Sesko believes Bruno Fernandes would be a worthy winner of the Premier League Player of the Year award after a stunning individual campaign.
Fernandes has been a key cog in United’s upturn in form under Michael Carrick, with the Red Devils closing in on a return to the Champions League next season.
The 31-year-old has 18 top-flight assists in 2025-26, with only Thierry Henry in 2002-03 for Arsenal, Kevin De Bruyne in 2019-20 for Manchester City (both 20) and Mesut Ozil in 2015-16 for Arsenal (19), ever creating more goals in a single season.
His 26 goal involvements (eight goals, 18 assists) is a total only bettered by Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (31), though no player has created more chances in the Premier League this season than the United captain’s 109.
Fernandes has teed up four of Sesko’s nine top-flight goals this term, and the Red Devils forward says his captain should be rewarded for his performances this year.
“I’m also getting a lot of instruction from Bruno,” Sesko told Sky Sports. “Every single training session, after training, sometimes before training.
“Whatever he tells you, just do it, don’t think twice. And that’s what I said. I’m really grateful to have this opportunity to be around him.”
Pressed further whether he thinks Fernandes should win Premier League Player of the Season, Sesko added: “He’s great. He’s my team-mate.
“And of course, always stand up [for my team-mates], yeah, he should win it.”
Following their 1-0 win over Chelsea in their last Premier League match, where Fernandes teed up Matheus Cunha’s 43rd-minute winner, United are third in the table and eight points clear of Brighton in sixth.
They take on fellow European hopefuls Brentford at Old Trafford on Monday, with United aiming to avoid back-to-back home league defeats for the first time since May 2025, having gone down to rivals Leeds United in their last such match.
Carrick’s side are assigned a 51.5% chance of taking all three points by the Opta supercomputer in its pre-match simulations, while they are also in the driving seat to secure a return to UEFA’s flagship competition.
United only finished outside the top five in 1.4% of simulations, and Sesko believes his team’s recent run can build a solid foundation to go on and win silverware in the future.
“I think we did great. Still, some games left, but I think we’re doing great. We have a great spirit in the team,” Sesko added.
“I’m learning a lot from the experience. We are here, great players, great coaching staff. I would like to really achieve some trophies here.
“I think there will be something that we just can’t forget, life at all. And, of course, we need to do a lot for it, but I believe we have the capacity to do that.”
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