Stats show Bruno's amazing endurance

Nobody will be surprised at the statistics which highlight his incomparable stamina but, at a time when we can at least pause for breath (not Bruno, he'll be in Euro 2024 qualifying action for Portugal), there is a chance to pay homage to his remarkable numbers.

He famously told us that he will only rest when he retires, a statement he continues to back up by performing so regularly for club and country.

United's arduous schedule, with the club still fighting on three fronts after already landing the Carabao Cup, means it has been a packed programme for Erik ten Hag to deal with but Bruno has played 44 times for the Reds, only missing two games.

The midfielder was suspended for the 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa in the Premier League in November and also January's Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Charlton Athletic.

When you add in his international appearances for Portugal, he has played 51 games this term, more than anybody else in world football, according to Transfermarkt.co.uk.

This places him ahead of his nearest challengers in this regard - including team-mates Marcus Rashford and Lisandro Martinez.

MOST APPERANCES IN 2022/23

51: Bruno Fernandes (UNITED, England)
49: Freddy Gondola (Alajuelense, Costa Rica), Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb, Croatia), Lisandro Martinez (UNITED, England), Marcus Rashford (UNITED, England), Ramil Sheydayev (Qarabag, Azerbaijan).
48: Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea, England), Claudiu Petrila (CFR Cluj, Romania), Alex Scott (Bristol City, England).

While Bruno is on top here, he narrowly misses out when it comes to breaking the statistics down to minutes played. Nonetheless, this is still pretty incredible when you consider he is an energetic midfielder and not a goalkeeper, with only Croatia no.1 Livakovic beating him, when it comes to time spent on the pitch, with his nation's third-placed finish at the World Cup finals helping to boost his numbers.

MOST MINUTES PLAYED IN 2022/23

4470: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb, Croatia)
4410: Bruno Fernandes (UNITED, England)
4337: Sam Roscoe (Linfield, Northern Ireland)
4215: Anthony Moris (Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium)
4170: Max Crocombe (Grimsby Town, England)

As you would expect, the majority of our no.8's rivals here are keepers - although Mancunian Sam Roscoe is a centre-back for Linfield. Former United defender Regan Poole, now with Lincoln City, is in joint-10th on the list.

With Bruno only an hour behind Livakovic, it may not be long before he is also topping this particular chart.

But that is not all. There has been a fear on our part of somehow jinxing the Portugal international's amazing availability since he joined the club from Sporting in 2020, but these are the bare facts.

It would appear he has only missed one United game through injury or illness, the 3-2 win over Tottenham in March 2022, when his fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick. Interim boss Ralf Rangnick confirmed before the game that Bruno was ill and had been forced to miss the previous day's training session.

As indicated, he has been absent for two matches this season, both through suspension. Last term, in addition to the Spurs fixture, he was ruled out of the Burnley win due to a ban and was rested for the Champions League draw with Young Boys, as Rangnick, in his second game in charge, made 11 changes to the line-up with first place in the group already assured.

In 2020/21, he was again rested for the final day of the season - a 2-1 victory at Wolves and also for a League Cup triumph at Brighton & Hove Albion in the previous September, days after his dramatic penalty winner at the Amex Stadium, after the final whistle had sounded. In regard to his debut season as a Red, he featured in every single game after making his debut against Wolves.

BRUNO'S UNITED RECORD

2019/20: 22 games / 12 goals
2020/21: 58 games / 28 goals
2021/22: 46 games / 10 goals
2022/23: 44 games / 10 goals

All stats courtesy of Transfermarkt.co.uk.