Can Bruno Fernandes Surpass Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne's Assist Record?

With eight games remaining, Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes is on the cusp of breaking the Premier League assist record, currently held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne with 20 assists. Fernandes has set up 16 league goals this season and is five assists shy of making history. As the Premier League's most prolific creator, Fernandes has a chance to narrow the gap when United face Bournemouth on Friday Night Football, live on Sky Sports. However, debate is brewing around how Fernandes has amassed his tally and how his achievement will compare to the current record holders if he equals or surpasses it. A closer look at the numbers reveals that Fernandes is on course to at least equal the record, with his rate of 0.61 assists per 90 minutes projecting him to add a further 4.9 assists. Nevertheless, cautionary tales from Mesut Ozil and Mohamed Salah serve as reminders that Fernandes' success is not guaranteed. The Portuguese midfielder has broken the club's record for assists in a Premier League season, surpassing David Beckham's record of 15. Fernandes' chances of smashing the record depend on maintaining his current rate of 0.93 assists per 90 minutes, which he has achieved in the last 10 games. However, the purists argue that Fernandes' tally, even if he equals or surpasses the record, would not bear comparison with the current holders due to his reliance on set-piece assists. Fernandes is also closing in on Steven Gerrard's record for most assists from set-pieces in a single season. The Manchester United captain has won the most points from assists by a single player in a Premier League season, with 18 points, surpassing both Henry and De Bruyne. As the season draws to a close, all eyes will be on Fernandes to see if he can make history and claim the Premier League assist record.