Bruno Fernandes stepped up to produce for Erik ten Hag’s team as Manchester United needed a victory going into their match against Burnley on Saturday night.

It brought to mind Robin van Persie’s magnificent volley from Manchester United’s final championship victory ten years prior.

Even though United may not have a chance to win the championship this year, Bruno Fernandes’ breath-taking angled volley right before halftime could have a major impact on their season. Erik ten Hag reminded his team that nothing less than a win at Burnley would do after three straight losses, and Fernandes came through when United needed their leader the most.

When Ten Hag named Fernandes United’s new captain during their preseason tour of the US in the summer, there were raised eyebrows because the player was not immediately perceived as leadership material.

Over the years, United has had numerous strong captains, including Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Roy Keane, Nemanja Vidic, and Wayne Rooney, players whose dedication and ambition were never in doubt.

Fernandes did not seem to carry on that illustrious tradition, not least because he seemed to lose his bearings during United’s humbling 7-0 loss to archrival Liverpool last season, going AWOL along with many other members of Ten Hag’s team that day. He was hardly the standout contender to succeed Harry Maguire as captain due to his tendency to lose his cool when things go wrong and his propensity to give up too early.

However, just before halftime, with United having been largely outplayed by Burnley, Fernandes demonstrated in a split second why he is qualified to captain Ten Hag’s team with a finish that few players would possess the vision and skill to complete.

When Jonny Evans floated a speculative ball over the top of the Burnley defense in the direction of Fernandes, there didn’t seem to be much of a threat, especially given the awkward position the Portugal international was in.

However, Fernandes demonstrated that he has the ability to turn a game on its head in a flash, much like Van Persie did against Aston Villa at Old Trafford in 2013. Van Persie watched Rooney’s pass all the way before slotting it into the goal first time with an unstoppable combination of technique and strength.

Another former United captain, Rio Ferdinand, who was commentating on the match for TNT Sports, commented, “That is what captains do.” They step up when you need something exceptional in crucial situations.

After such a dismal start to a season filled with so much hope and anticipation, the goal proved to be the foundation for a crucial win for United, one that has relieved Ten Hag and his players of some of the burden.

Four losses in their first six games was not the plan for Ten Hag and his team, who finished third last season and broke United’s six-year trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup.

The possibility to turn a corner and advance is there with their next five games against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup and Premier League, Galatasaray, Brentford, and Sheffield United. However, this victory has at least provided them with some respite from that disastrous start.

In addition, Ten Hag has had to deal with a long list of players who have been forced to miss practice or games due to both on- and off-field problems.

The fact that Evans, who returned to United on a one-year contract, was given his first start for the team since March 2015 served as a further indication of the shortage of personnel at Ten Hag’s disposal.