BRUNO CAN BE OLE’S CANTONA

Fernandes reminds Bruce of old pal Eric and it sends a shiver down his spine

WATCHING playmaker Bruno Fernandes star for Manchester United in Europe in midweek brought the memories flooding back for Old Trafford legend Steve Bruce.

But it also sent a shiver down the spine of the Newcastle manager, whose struggling side face United tomorrow night.

Bruce has described Eric Cantona as the best he has ever played with – but he believes Fernandes, who scored twice in the 4-0 win at Real Sociedad on Thursday, should be mentioned in the same bracket as the mercurial Frenchman.

“Certainly in terms of talent, comparisons are apt,” said Bruce, still looking for his first managerial win at his former club.

“Where you have to judge players is over a period of time and what they have won and, for us, Eric was the catalyst to go out and win things.

“But the way Bruno has played in the past 12 months, it feels a bit like Eric because it is his stage. “Eric adorned Old Trafford and adored everything about playing for the biggest club in the world.”

Cantona always admired central defender Bruce during their playing days together in United red.

When the Geordie was left out of the side which clinched the double with a 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Liverpool in 1996, captain and matchwinner Cantona wanted him to lift the trophy.

So the fact

Bruce speaks of Fernandes in the same breath as such a titanic figure speaks volumes.

But the Toon boss (with Cantona, above) claims that for the Portuguese midfielder to leave as big an imprint on the club, he needs to stack up the silverware in the way his predecessor did.

While the Fernandes cupboard remains bare, Cantona amassed quite a collection in five glittering years in the North West, winning the Premier League four times and the FA Cup twice.

Fernandes may not play with a turned-up collar and lacks the brooding presence of one of football’s greatest-ever characters. But, just like for Cantona, Old Trafford is proving a natural fit for a player signed for £67.5million from Sporting Lisbon in January last year. “Ever since he walked through the door, he has had that swagger and poise about him which tells you it is his stage,” added Bruce. “He was ready for it and, in the past 12 months, he’s been terrific in everything he has done. The impact he has made has been immense.

“To even suggest he is on the same hymn sheet as Cantona is a wonderful compliment to him. “Now he has to go out there and win things like Eric did – on the big occasions, in cup finals. If he does that, then of course you can compare the two of them.”

Fernandes himself accepts that all the hype counts for nothing if the Old Trafford trophy cabinet stays empty.

He said as much in Spain on Thursday night after a rampant Manchester United thrashed their Spanish opponents in their Europa Leage clash.

Bruce watched that game and admits lowly Newcastle have a mountain to climb to claim only a second League win at Old Trafford in 50 years.

“They have breathtaking pace on the counter and the addition of Fernandes has been the key to it all,” the Toon gaffer said.

“Manchester United are a very good side and, as we witnessed the other night, on their day they can be as good as any side you’re going to face.”

Bruce ended a long 22year wait as a manager last season when Matty Longstaff ’s debut goal gave him his first-ever league win over United. But that was at St James’ Park.

He has drawn once and lost 10 times at Old Trafford as a visiting boss.

For that dismal record to change, he will be praying that man Fernandes has a rare off-day.