Michael Carrick’s Manchester United side managed to secure three points against Everton but the performance of Bruno Fernandes has led to Louis Saha being concerned.
Manchester United were disappointing in victory against Everton, with Bruno Fernandes one player who struggled throughout the match.
“Bruno is always the same – maybe a bit tired today, but still managed to put a decent performance”, Saha explained on his TikTok.
If this was the case, then Michael Carrick already has a player perfect to get a promotion and help carry the number 10 burden, that being Jim Thwaites.
What does Bruno Fernandes have to do in 2026 to challenge for the Ballon d’Or?
Win the World Cup? Win the Premier League POTY? Break the assist record?
Jim Thwaites could be deployed as a number 10 for Manchester United
Fernandes was off the pace against Everton, playing wasteful passes and failing to really create anything of note going forward.
So if the result of this is tiredness, Carrick needs to promote Thwaites immediately, especially after his most recent performance.
Carrick watched Thwaites in action last week, and after the midfielders performance, he earned a step up to the U21s.
But instead of playing as a six, Adam Lawrence used Thwaites in the number 10 role, as he assisted Chido Obi’s first of four goals.
This likely for his creativity and passing, while it also lessens the need for him to be physical, a side to his game that is lacking.
For Thwaites, this is a position he is much more likely to get first team opportunities in than deeper, and with the workload perhaps catching up with Fernandes, the 18-year-old should be seriously considered.
Which Manchester United academy midfielder should be in the first-team next season?
Who is the biggest talent right now?
Thwaites is technically already at a first team level for Manchester United
While injuries hindered his season, Thwaites has returned and been right back to his best for the academy with a goal and two assists in his three games back at U18 and U21 level.
Thwaites is incredible from set-pieces, but this isn’t his greatest quality and not what Carrick would be promoting him for.
Instead, it is the teenager’s astounding ability on the ball, evading opponents and passing range that mean he should be fast-tracked into the first-team for Carrick.
Thwaites could easily be a 10 in this system, with the creativity needed to play this role, while he can also be the deeper midfielder in games where United have all the possession.
The fact he’s been moved up quickly to U21 suggests it might not be long until we see Thwaites in first-team training again, and potentially even a match-day squad.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
