Bruno Fernandes had a brilliant game for Man United in the 4-2 win over Sheffield United, scoring a brace and also getting an assist.
However, the Portuguese midfielder has insisted that he really wanted to help young forward Ethan Wheatley score a goal in his senior debut.
After the match, Fernandes told MUTV: “I think at the end of the game I got a little too erratic to give him (Wheatley) a goal because, like I said, he’s a young kid coming through the academy and I know the moment is massive for him.
“Getting a goal in his first appearance would have been massive. I couldn’t give the assist, but I tried and at moments rushed it a little bit too much. It’s probably an amazing feeling for (Wheatley)
“I’ve been a kid myself, although I didn’t come through an academy to play for the first team like he’s doing. He should be really proud, I hope he had family and friends here today to see it because it’s a moment not to forget. It’s something he’ll always remember.
“Many of them (the young players) have been on the bench and they still haven’t had their chance, so if he plays today, it’s because the manager has trust in him. And even the other ones who are on the bench, we all trust them, we all think they have the qualities to come on, even play in the first XI to give us help.”
Wheatley became the 250th Man United youth academy graduate to have made their debut for the first-team and produced an impressive late cameo after replacing Rasmus Hojlund.
The 18-year-old, who scored eight goals for the under-18 side this season, could feature more often towards the final few matches of the 2023/24 Premier League season and look to get his first-ever senior goal.
