Former Premier League striker Nigel Jemson insists that Bruno Fernandes’ goalscoring record last season was inflated by the amount of penalties he scored.

The Portugal international emerged as a key player for United throughout the campaign.

Fernandes scored a total of 18 goals in the Premier League last term, and also laid on 11 assists in 37 games as United finished second in the table, 12 points behind champions Manchester City.

Of those goals, half were penalties, while he also scored four penalties in European competition, two in the Champions League and two in the Europa League.

Fernandes did score a hat-trick from open play on the opening weekend of the season against Leeds United but Jemson believes that he has had his record artificially inflated by the spot-kicks he took last season.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Jemson said: “Fernandes has got off to a great start, scoring a hat-trick, but he scored a lot of penalties last year. Take those out and his goalscoring record wasn’t as good.”

Fernandes will be out to add to his tally this season on Sunday, when United take on Wolves at Molineux before the international break.