Owen Hargreaves backs surprise choice for Premier League Player of the Season | OneFootball

Manchester United legend Owen Hargreaves has made a bold claim regarding the Premier League Player of the Season race, naming Bruno Fernandes as his surprise pick for the prestigious award.

Despite another campaign of struggles for the Red Devils, which saw Michael Carrick take over the managerial reins in January, the Portuguese captain has remained a model of elite consistency.

In a recent interview, Hargreaves was asked if Fernandes should be considered the frontrunner for the individual prize given his form.

The former midfielder didn’t hesitate to back the United skipper, placing him ahead of the league’s other attacking superstars.

Hargreaves: Bruno Fernandes wins if Arsenal miss out on Premier League title

Hargreaves admitted that the final winners of the Premier League, currently led by Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, will play a massive role in the voting.

However, from a pure attacking performance standpoint, he believes Fernandes is unmatched.

When asked if Bruno Fernandes deserves the Premier League Player of the Season award, Hargreaves told TNT Sports:

“He’s up there. I think right now he’s the best player in the Premier League, just in terms of creation and assists.

“I think if Arsenal win the league, it will be Gabriel or Declan Rice. Gabriel’s been the best defender this season. If Arsenal win, I think it will be one of those two. If not, then I think Bruno definitely deserves to win it.”

Bruno Fernandes produces record-breaking season despite club struggles

The statistics back up Hargreaves’ high praise. Despite United sitting in third place and battling through a mid-season managerial transition, Fernandes has been statistically dominant.

He has already racked up 16 assists and 8 goals in 28 Premier League appearances this season.

His most recent exploits include surpassing David Beckham’s Manchester United record of 15 assists in a single Premier League campaign.

With eight games still to play, Fernandes is now within touching distance of the all-time Premier League record of 20 assists, held jointly by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

Having already created over 100 chances this season, he is making a undeniable case to be crowned the league’s best, regardless of where United finish in the table.