Mauricio Pochettino will be desperate to get Bruno Fernandes back in form when he arrives at Manchester United next week.

The club's new head coach has a difficult task ahead of him as he looks to turn United's season around. After entering the international break in the relegation zone, the Reds sacked Michael Carrick.

A lot of attention has been on those above the head coach, particularly Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada, but Pochettino will need to get results to improve the mood towards the team.

The best way to do that is to increase the fitness levels of the side - something the Argentine is well-known for in management - and to get Bruno Fernandes firing once again.

Pochettino will be in charge of Fernandes for the first time, but in another world, they might have already met in the Premier League.

Previously, Fernandes confirmed that the new United boss wanted to sign him for Tottenham Hotspur before his move to Old Trafford six years ago.

Pochettino was clearly a big fan of the midfielder, who has since gone on to register 113 goals and 108 assists for United.

“It was Pochettino who wanted me there," Fernandes said of Spurs' interest in him in a prior interview with O Jogo.

"The offer was good, but Sporting did everything to keep me. I wanted to go to the Premier League. Frederico Varandas spoke to me, but not in the best way. It was the day after they had turned Tottenham down, which made me really angry.”

Now, six years later, Fernandes is finally set to play under Pochettino, and United need their captain to start performing like he did last season.

Fernandes recently rejected a contract offer from United. His current deal runs out at the end of the season.

That is an example of the frustration the midfielder has with the lack of ambition at the club. He is desperate to challenge for silverware at Old Trafford but decisions from the board, like the lack of investment in defence last summer, have hindered those chances.

United's club captain seems to have lost some belief, as have many supporters. Pochettino needs to find that spark for his captain when he arrives.

The ex-Spurs man is clearly a passionate head coach and that will be useful. Ruben Amorim was criticised for his scatter-gun and overly emotional personality while critics of Carrick said he was too calm and composed.

Pochettino will be hoping to strike a balance in between to help turn United's fortunes around.