Manchester United kicked off their 2026/27 Premier League campaign in style, recording an impressive 5-2 victory over newly-promoted Ipswich Town at Old Trafford.
Manager Michael Carrick will have been relieved to bounce back after the Red Devils suffered an embarrassing defeat to Hull City the previous weekend.
The match got off to a rocky start when Leif Davis put the visitors ahead after 29 minutes, threatening to compound United’s early-season misery.
Bruno Fernandes quickly silenced those concerns, however, producing a stunning hat-trick to remind everyone exactly why he remains United’s most important player.
The 31-year-old Portuguese international had faced criticism following his disappointing performance against Hull, but delivered a world-class response at Old Trafford.
Fernandes claimed his third hat-trick since joining United back in 2020, and added an assist with a perfectly weighted through ball to set up Bryan Mbeumo’s lobbed finish past Kjell Scherpen.
His overall statistics were remarkable, finishing the game with the most chances created and the most accurate long balls of any player on the pitch.
Fernandes completed the match with three goals, one assist, 86% pass accuracy, three chances created, nine passes into the final third, and four ball recoveries across his 90 minutes.
Yet while Bruno rightly claimed the headlines, another player quietly delivered a performance that demands equal recognition from supporters and the manager alike.
Kobbie Mainoo, who failed to earn a single minute of action for England at the World Cup, appeared determined to make Thomas Tuchel regret that decision with a commanding display.
The 21-year-old featured for 80 minutes, completing 90% of his attempted passes and sending six of those efforts into the final third of the pitch.
Mainoo also completed the highest number of dribbles of any player on the pitch, finishing with four, underlining his composure and directness when carrying the ball forward.
His defensive contribution was equally impressive, winning 82% of his ground duels and making nine ball recoveries, both figures higher than any other United midfielder on the day.
He also registered three tackles and two interceptions, meaning the likes of Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba face a significant challenge if they want to take his place in the starting eleven.
His performance also played a key role in the build-up to the penalty won by Matheus Cunha, highlighting how his ability helped United break down Ipswich’s defensive low block.
Man United journalist and content creator Alex Turk had described Mainoo as a “future £100m” star last year, and this performance suggested that valuation may already be a reality.
Comparisons with the fees paid for Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali this summer only strengthen the argument that Mainoo is already operating at that financial level.
Despite several summer midfield additions, Carrick chose to trust Mainoo from the start against Gary O’Neil’s Ipswich side, a decision that proved entirely justified by the final whistle.
At just 21 years of age, Mainoo has the tools and temperament to develop into one of the finest midfielders in world football over the coming seasons.
If Manchester United are serious about challenging for silverware in 2026/27, keeping Fernandes and Mainoo firing together will be absolutely central to any success they hope to achieve.