Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has heaped praise on the winning mentality of midfielder Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese only made the move to Old Trafford from Sporting in January but he has made a quick impression with two goals and two assists from four Premier League appearances.

Speaking after the club’s FA Cup fifth round win at Derby County, Solskjaer spoke fondly about the club’s January signing, who has managed to replicate the same level of performances from his Sporting days, he told: "I like to see that in a player, he doesn't change coming into a new team. He's the same as he was at Sporting. That's a boy with confidence, with quality, good form and that's his personality. Everyone should be themselves. He's come in as a leader and he's shown he's a leader. He's a winner. He doesn't take 99 per cent as good enough."

United have gone unbeaten for nine games on the bounce and that has included six wins and three draws. Of course, it has been disappointing with a couple of those stalemates coming in the Premier League but the club are still in a good position to qualify for the Champions League after Manchester City’s European competition ban.

The Citizens are presently banned from European competitions for the next two years but they have the possibility of overturning the embargo through an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. In case, they are able to nullify the ban, the fifth position on the table would be sufficient to guarantee Champions League football for next season.

United are currently fifth in the league standings but they don’t have any leeway with Wolverhampton Wanderers right behind them on goal difference. They are scheduled to host Manchester City in the derby on Sunday and that is definitely a must-win game, considering they could drop up to eighth on the table with a defeat.