Man Utd analysis: Carrick's tweak that has unlocked Bruno Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes has been made Player of the Month for March where he is more important to Manchester United than ever in a new attacking role.

Michael Carrick immediately solved the problem of fitting Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo into the team by pushing the Portuguese further forward.

It seems like a simple solution and the fact Ruben Amorim never used it was because he didn't trust Mainoo in midfield.

Fernandes' strength is clearly on the ball and making key passes so pushing him further forward means he is more effective.

And at the same time, he is weaker defensively and doesn't get back as much as would be needed for a deeper central midfield role.

Fernandes in his new role has scored two goals and now has the most assists in a Premier League season by a United player - overtaking David Beckham's tally in 1999/2000.

His goals came from the penalty spot in a victory over Crystal Palace and the draw at Bournemouth. While he got three assists in March.

The Bournemouth clash on March 20 summed up his value to the team where he converted with a spot-kick after Matheus Cunha was fouled.

He also sprayed the ball around well and was the link-up in attack even if he didn't have his best game.

What in particular has been noted with his new role has been his link-up with Casemiro. Fernandes' crosses have created key chances for the Brazilian as well as the goal he got from a corner away to Newcastle in March.

It is very different to the start of the season and the last campaign when the midfield was often at fault for not giving enough support for the defence.

With Fernandes looking to get forward, he was criticised by pundits including Roy Keane who said he wasn't working hard enough in defence.

The numbers show Fernandes managed just four assists in Amorim's final ten games in charge, often looking frustrated and peripheral in a system that simply didn't suit him.

At the same time it was putting more strain on Casemiro who did not have the legs to get up and down the pitch as he had done earlier in his career for Real Madrid.

In attack there was also not enough support for Benjamin Sesko who looked isolated and his confidence ebbed away.

The contrast with the Amorim era is stark. In Carrick's nine games in charge Fernandes has been directly involved in ten goals.

That kind of output from a player who was being written off as past his best just two months ago is remarkable, and it is almost entirely down to the positional freedom he has been given.

The Mainoo factor is also crucial here. The 20-year-old is one of the best young midfielders in the Premier League and his ability to win the ball and distribute simply means United no longer need Fernandes to do the defensive dirty work.

This month has also seen plenty of tough competition for United's best player especially from Casemiro and Cunha.

But Fernandes was a resounding winner with 71% of the vote among fans.

On beating Beckham's tally of assists, Fernandes said: "Obviously, it's very nice.It's a very good achievement. We're talking about one of the best players, certainly strikers of anyone of the ball into the box.

"So I'm very pleased to do that."It's not going to change anything for what I want but being there with a name who, obviously, was one of the players everyone looks up to, in the way of crossing and the way of passing.

"Like everyone in their own garden I tried to do it like Beckham and was doing it, even if you're just swinging your arm, like he used to do it, not as much the ball!"I'm obviously very happy to do that [beat his record]."

At 31, Fernandes is playing the best football of his United career and it is to the credit of Carrick who has found the solution.

August: Bryan Mbeumo

September: Bruno Fernandes

October: Bryan Mbeumo

November: Matthijs de Ligt

December: Ayden Heaven

January: Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu

February: Benjamin Sesko

March: Bruno Fernandes