Bullet-proof Bruno

Numbers crunched in the new edition of the mag show that, prior to 2024/25, our attacking midfielder had featured in a whopping 94.3 per cent of all United matches played since he made his debut.

That is an extremely impressive percentage figure and it showcases the resistance to injury that Bruno has demonstrated in his United career so far, his energy levels, his recovery routine, his conditioning… not to mention the performance output that has made him a virtually guaranteed pick under four different managers, including interims, since he arrived at Old Trafford.

His appearance in the Community Shield at Wembley meant that Bruno had featured in 234 of the 248 competitive matches that the Reds had contested since Fernandes’s first, his debut against Wolves on 1 February 2020.

That makes him comfortably United’s most involved player in the period he’s been at the club, and ranks impressively when benchmarked more widely in the Premier League and beyond, especially in a dynamic outfield position such as midfield.

It was only in May last season that Bruno missed his first United matches through injury, in fact, against Crystal Palace and Arsenal. Prior to that he’d only sat out matches through a handful of restings. 

“I don’t expect anyone to give me flowers for being available to play football, because everyone tries to be,” was Bruno’s modest appraisal earlier this year.

“Being available is part of my job. I’ve been lucky to be always fit. I take care of myself, I try as much as I can to get my rest, get my food, get my training, get everything in place. That’s part of the job.”

Hopefully Bruno can keep up his sterling record in the season ahead – if so his next United landmark, of 250 appearances, won’t be too long in coming.

The September edition of Inside United is on sale now in newsagents, shops, at Old Trafford on matchdays, and can be bought or subscribed to online here.