BRUNO GOES FOUR IT IN PAIN GAME

BRUNO FERNANDES is willing to play through the pain barrier to ensure Manchester United qualify for the Champions League.

- DAVID MCDONNELL

Fernandes scored the winner in Sunday's 1-0 win over Aston Villa, which nudged Erik ten Hag (below) and his side closer to a top-four finish.

United are currently fourth, seven points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool, with a game in hand on their arch rivals in the race for a Champions League spot.

Stand-in skipper Fernandes (top) is still carrying a painful knock he picked up in the FA Cup semi-final shoot-out win over Brighton. He was pictured wearing a protective boot after the Wembley clash, but played the whole of last Thursday's 2-2 draw at Tottenham.

He also completed the full 90 minutes against Villa and revealed he is still struggling with the issue.