Fernandes gets United’s season under way in style

Bruno Fernandes scored his first hat-trick in English football in front of a raucous Old Trafford as Manchester United thrashed Leeds United 5-1 to get their Premier League season off to a flying start on Saturday.

French midfielder Paul Pogba also starred with four assists – one more than he managed in the whole of last season in the league – to help United run riot in front of their first full crowd in 17 months.

Fernandes got the goalscoring under way on the half hour mark, before a Luke Ayling thunderbolt out of nowhere levelled things up three minutes into the second half.

It was only a short reprieve for Leeds, however, as Man United livewire Mason Greenwood fired the hosts back in front before Fernandes added a quickfire third to put Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in command.

Fernandes completed his treble with another fine finish on the hour mark, before Brazilian Fred got in on the act to complete the rout and cap a memorable afternoon for the hosts, who laid down an early marker in the Premier League title race.

“My objective every season is being better than the last,” Fernandes told BT Sport. “Every performance I do, I want to do better and better. I’ve started with three goals but it’s a long way to go.

The hosts welcomed new signing Raphael Varane onto the pitch pre-match.