Alan Shearer insists Declan Rice can only beat Bruno Fernandes to player of the season on one condition | OneFootball

Alan Shearer believes Arsenal winning the Premier League might not even be enough to see Declan Rice pip Bruno Fernandes to the title of player of the season.

Fernandes has been a standout at Manchester United through thick and thin this season, helping drag them through the end of Ruben Amorim’s reign before spearheading the club’s revival under Michael Carrick.

The Portuguese midfielder has eight goals and 16 assists to his name in 28 games and has been integral to United’s push for Champions League qualification during the second half of the campaign, with the club sitting pretty in third, seven points above sixth-place Chelsea.

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Bruno Fernandes has been a standout this season (Getty Images)

He is among the frontrunners for the Premier League’s player of the season award alongside Gunners talisman Rice, with the latter currently the bookmakers’ favourite.

But Shearer, a two-time PFA Players’ Player of the Year winner, believes Rice may need a serious silverware haul to beat Fernandes to the crown.

“I think two outstanding candidates also would be Declan Rice and Bruno Fernandes,” Shearer told Betfair.

“Man United have been through everything this season but Bruno seems to have been the shining light and God knows where they'd be without him. He's been a fantastic player for them.

“I just think because of how painful it's been for Man United at times, he's been the one constant in terms of performances and attitude and everything else.

“I mean, he might rub one or two people up the wrong way, but I think in terms of performances, he's been absolutely outstanding. And there's no doubt he's been the pick of the bunch for Manchester United for such a long time now.

“However, with Declan Rice, the way he's dragged Arsenal through games as well. I think it depends on what will happen in terms of teams winning.

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Declan Rice is currently the bookmakers’ favourite to win player of the season (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“If Arsenal were to win the treble or a double, depending on what that double may be, then it would probably have to be an Arsenal player, and Rice has been one of the standouts.”

Arsenal currently sit nine points ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand, at the top of the Premier League table, with Mikel Arteta’s side hoping to end the club’s 22-year wait for a league title.

The Gunners are also vying for glory in the Champions League and FA Cup but fell short in their first trophy bid this season, losing Sunday’s Carabao Cup final to City.