Bruno Fernandes: Captain still setting the standard with Man Utd hat-trick

To sum up, the season started pretty badly for Fernandes, who was one of many players well below par in a shock 2-0 defeat at Hull City.

Matters improved significantly on Tuesday, as Fernandes collected the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award for his phenomenal contribution to United returning to the Champions League after a two-year absence.

Last season, he totted up a Premier League record of 21 assists.

Before the Ipswich game, he walked on to the pitch with the sons of PC Matthew Blades, who was tragically killed in a recent head-on collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough.

Once the match began, Fernandes was largely anonymous as the home side went a goal down to Gary O’Neil’s side.

But, when opportunity presented itself, Fernandes stepped up.

First, the 31-year-old fired home a blistering equaliser after Marcelino Nunez slipped under no pressure, presenting Matheus Cunha with a clear run at the Ipswich goal, which allowed him to set up his captain.

Fernandes then kept his cool to smash home a penalty in front of the Stretford End to make it 3-1 after an hour. Bearing in mind Fernandes missed two penalties in pre-season, there must have been a sizeable amount of personal pressure on the shot.

Fernandes completed his third United hat-trick seven minutes after that, although arguably all his previous efforts would have been overshadowed had he managed to find the net with an audacious 55-yard effort after Ipswich lost possession straight after the restart.

Goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen was backpedalling furiously and was relieved the ball ended up on top of his net rather than in it.

“He means a lot,” said Carrick, when asked to sum up Fernandes’ contribution.

“I mean, he’s the captain. He’s been here for a good number of years now and experienced a whole load of different emotions.

“Times like today, when you’re looking towards certain players to give us that little bit of something else, he did particularly well.”