BRYAN MBEUMO and Amad’s celebratory jig in front of the Stretford End against Brighton is not the first time they have collaborated this season.
The pair have linked up promisingly ever since Mbeumo’s first appearance for Manchester United in the Premier League Summer Series against Everton.
Mbeumo only played the first half that night in Atlanta but he made a quick impression and few United signings have started as superbly as he has in the club’s fallow times.
It makes the timing of yet another Africa Cup of Nations tournament all the more troubling for United.
Mbeumo and Amad, two certain starters in Ruben Amorim’s side, will almost certainly be called up by Cameroon and Ivory Coast this winter.
The tournament starts on December 21 and nations favour a pre-tournament training camp. United dug their heels in to delay Andre Onana’s departure for AFCON two seasons ago, despite his ropey form.
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Fortunately for United, that edition of AFCON coincided with a two-week winter break in January 2024. Onana only missed one game – away to League Two Newport County in the FA Cup fourth round.
But the upcoming AFCON is the first that is set to severely affect United. Their only prominent outfield representative in the past was the injury-prone Eric Bailly, who averaged fewer than 20 appearances a season during his six years at the club.
Mbeumo could miss three games in December alone if Cameroon opt for another pre-tournament training camp a week before their first game against Gabon on Christmas Eve.
United host Bournemouth on December 13 and are then away at Aston Villa on the 21st, which Mbeumo seems certain to miss.
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The Premier League is yet to confirm the new dates and times for the remaining December fixtures against Newcastle United and Wolves at home.
Cameroon and Ivory Coast’s final group games are on New Year’s Eve. Regardless of whether their nations progress to the knockout stage, Mbeumo and Amad would be doubts to start in United’s first game of 2026 – the highly anticipated trip to Leeds United.
Amorim has overseen progress in recent weeks with Mbeumo and Amad mainstays in the starting XI.
United’s three-match winning run began against Sunderland, which coincided with Amad’s recall to the starting XI after he missed the 3-1 debacle at Brentford due to a family bereavement.
Amad, 23, has started in eight of United’s ten matches this term and he is now the automatic pick on the right wing.
He played in fellow left-footer Mbeumo for United’s stunning start at Liverpool. After the Brighton victory, Amorim enthused about Amad and Mbeumo’s collaboration.
Ruben Amorim said: “The connection with Amad: it is really hard to beat these two guys because they change positions. They are really fast, they are good in one against one.”
CHANGING ROOM
Take both of them out of the side and the dynamic changes markedly. Mbeumo is United’s highest scorer with five goals.
Without Mbeumo, Amorim would have to use Mason Mount, a right-footer, as one of the two playmakers with Matheus Cunha, nestled in on the left.
With Noussair Mazraoui also set to represent home nation Morocco during AFCON, Diogo Dalot would be the probable right winger with Patrick Dorgu on the left wing.
Suddenly, United have two full backs as wingers and the two left-footers on the right are two right-footers.
Mount’s injury issues are also a concern. He was not risked whatsoever against Brighton on Saturday, having been considered a doubt by Amorim the day before.
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The 26-year-old has had one injury lay-off already this season and is yet to complete 90 minutes. United manage Mount more carefully after only 47 appearances in his first two campaigns.
An alternative to Mount is Kobbie Mainoo, often used as a playmaker by Amorim but still without a league start this season.
Mainoo’s only United goals under Amorim – against Steaua Bucharest and Lyon – have come through playing as one of the front three.
Joshua Zirkzee is another possibility, yet he last started a match for United in April and the club are likely to cash in on the Dutchman next year.
Bruno Fernandes is United’s best player and a playmaker by trade but embedded in central midfield.
All three are right-footers and United have gained form by switching the right-footed Dalot to the left, where he has supported Mount or Cunha, or both, as was the case at Anfield.
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Dalot is maligned by many United fans but fellow Portuguese Amorim regularly leans on him. Amorim added his compatriot to the leadership group in the summer and Dalot’s demotion to the bench at Fulham in August was brief. He started three days later at Grimsby.
It is still difficult to imagine him and Mount choreographing a celebratory dance.
