Bruno Fernandes has been the standout performer for Manchester United this season but Wayne Rooney believes the midfielder is showing signs of frustration

Manchester United hero Wayne Rooney has claimed Bruno Fernandes is showing signs of frustration as the Red Devils icon warned the Portuguese star could 'explode'. Fernandes finds himself with the burden of dragging United out of another sticky situation with just two wins in their last eight across all competitions.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Michael Carrick with United's only two wins coming against Ipswich in the Premier League and Sabah in the Champions League. They're now enduring a run of four matches without a triumph, including squandering leads against Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur while a stroke of fortune earned them a point at Craven Cottage against Fulham.

Rooney feels that relieving Fernandes of some responsibility, or at the very least easing the weight of expectation that comes with his role at the club.

He told The Overlap's Stick to United: "I genuinely do think he looks (like), 'oh, here we go again'. Same thing.

"There's only so many times (he can do it), he is getting personal recognition, his goals, assists and he's carried the team but you need taking out of that position."

"You can't take yourself out but taken out of that role to be able to breathe again. You can see it building up, there's going to be an explosion with him if it keeps building with him, he's not scared to come out and voice his opinion so there will be that explosion if it carries on.

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"Even if taking him out, moving him back or take him out the team, freshen it up a little bit, be more solid in midfield because what you need to do is get results and wins any way that you can.

"[Youri] Tielemans can play that position but for me you need that three in midfield because you're getting outrun, outplayed and then all of a sudden you've got Tielemans and [Kobbie] Mainoo who are both not the quickest and not the most mobile to cover the full width, they can't do it, they need help.

"Whether you stick [Carlos] Baleba in there with them but they need security to help the back four as well. You need to be solid then go and win the game."

Rooney appeared on the podcast alongside former United defender Phil Bardsley, who suggested Fernandes appears drained as he finds himself lumbered with yet another rescue mission to keep the club competing for European football and domestic silverware.

Bardsley argued that other players in the squad must now shoulder more responsibility and drive the club onwards. He said: "Would you sacrifice Bruno? He's fed up, he looks fed up, he looks tired, he's carried the team for three, four, five years.

"He's probably got to a point now where if he's having an off day, somebody else needs to step up and nobody is."