Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown has hailed new signing Bruno Fernandes as the Red Devils' 'missing link'.

The Portugal international joined Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side from Sporting Lisbon in January and has made an immediate impact at Old Trafford since his arrival, registering two goals and three assists in five Premier League matches.

Fernandes provided the assist for Martial's opener in United's 2-0 win over arch-rivals Manchester City on Sunday, and Brown believes that the midfielder has changed the whole team.

Speaking to Goal.com, Brown said: "It's interesting when players come in in January because you don't know how they're going to do when they arrive, sometimes it takes time for them to come in and settle.

"But Fernandes has come in and changed the whole team. He is the type of player United have been missing. He wants to get on the ball and get those little dinks over the top and he has some special moves.

"By doing that he has brought a confidence to the team that wasn't there before.

"He has been excellent and I think the team has bounced off him coming in and they just keep improving with him in it."

Solskjaer's side currently sit fifth in the Premier League table as they prepare to face Austrian side LASK Linz in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday.