WHEN Bruno Fernandes’s number came up on the substitutes board with just a minute or so of normal time to go in Manchester United’s win against Newcastle on Wednesday night, he was lying flat on the pitch, exhausted.

It was a deserved moment of respite for a player who had not stopped — one who was involved in everything for Manchester United, and one who excelled at all those things.

It also helped run the clock down a bit. Man United appeared safely in possession of three points with the score at 3-1, but this team cannot take any lead for granted given the struggles they have had this season.