Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick faces a significant decision regarding the inclusion of captain Bruno Fernandes for the team's crucial Premier League fixture against Bournemouth on Sunday.

The debate over Fernandes's role and form has intensified, with former players and fan commentators offering differing perspectives on whether the skipper should retain his place in the starting lineup.

Former Everton and Rangers striker Duncan Ferguson suggested that Carrick should prioritize players he trusts and remove Fernandes if he believes the captain is not playing for the team. "Your captain has thrown you under the bus. If you don't think he is playing for you, get him out. I wouldn't pick him even though he is their best player," Ferguson stated on The Overlap podcast.

Joe Smith, a host for the Manchester United fan channel Stretford Paddock, echoed this sentiment, expressing doubt about Fernandes's inclusion. "I don't think Fernandes should play on the weekend. I don't think (Lisandro) Martínez should've played against Leeds, because otherwise they're running the ship here," Smith said.

Wayne Rooney, a former teammate of Carrick's, addressed the potential fallout from Fernandes's recent comments. "When Martinez came out, I said this is an absolute nightmare because it will rip the dressing room apart," Rooney said on the United Stand podcast. "That was the start. We've seen it now with Bruno and you're going to see it with more players because they don't want to take responsibility. I was in that situation [as manager at Plymouth and Birmingham City] and if I was in Carrick's position now, I'd come out fighting. There's no more Mr Nice Guy."

Carrick is expected to address the media ahead of the Bournemouth game, where he will likely be questioned about Fernandes's availability and the captain's recent public criticism of the team's tactics following the 4-1 Champions League defeat against Como. Some observers were surprised that Fernandes did not face disciplinary action for his post-match comments, especially after teammate Lisandro Martinez was fined for remarks made about the club hierarchy.

A source who has previously worked with Fernandes described his comments as "an assassination" and "unprofessional," suggesting that "Michael's team are killing him."

The core issue revolves around Fernandes's assertion that tactical issues should be identified and addressed by the coaching staff on the sidelines, rather than solely by the players. Fernandes is recognized within the squad for his tactical understanding and desire to succeed. His comments, made on TNT Sports, were reportedly not impromptu reactions but considered statements.

However, some at Old Trafford have expressed sympathy for Fernandes, pointing to his 10 post-match interviews after the Como loss and noting that his words, while critical, may have been less inflammatory in spoken form than they appeared in print.

Manchester United's hierarchy is reportedly aiming to move away from a cycle of frequent managerial changes. Nevertheless, Carrick is under pressure to end the team's current winless streak of seven games. A failure to secure a victory against Bournemouth would match a difficult run experienced under Louis van Gaal in the 2015-16 season.

Adding to Carrick's selection challenges, key players Benjamin Sesko, Kobbie Mainoo, and Marcus Rashford are sidelined due to injury. The partnership between Fernandes and Youri Tielemans has also not yielded the expected results, and Fernandes's goal contributions this season have been limited, with a hat-trick and assist against Ipswich in August and a goal against Sabah FK in September.

Despite these factors, Carrick must make the critical decision on whether to drop his captain for the upcoming match.