Bryan Mbeumo made his Manchester United debut against Everton in Atlanta, and it was clear that he will be required to play in the much different style to how he played at Brentford
The burst down the right hand side, the cut inside onto the left foot, the finish.
It became something of a trademark for Bryan Mbeumo at Brentford, but if the Cameroonian’s first outing in a Manchester United shirt is anything to go by then we’re going to be seeing that signature move a lot less.
On this evidence, as Mbeumo played in attack with Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha against Everton in Atlanta, he’s going to be tasked with making an impact all across the front line and not just down the right, where he was a constant menace and presence across most of his 242 Brentford appearances.
Fluidity is going to be the watchword for this particular United attack, with Mbeumo taking up all three positions in the front line across the first half hour, and as a result Fernandes and Cunha doing the same.
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With the width given by wing-backs Amad and Diogo Dalot, Mbeumo and Cunha were often required to focus their attentions on haring towards goal from deep, with Fernandes pulling the strings behind them and moving into ever dangerous positions.
The link-up play between the trio was promising in the opening exchanges, but Fernandes had already scored from the penalty spot – something Mbeumo would often do for Brentford – before the debutant would start to exert his authority on the game.
Notably Mbeumo was on free-kicks for United, and after a poor delivery into the box for his first, he brought a save from Jordan Pickford from one closer to goal. Shortly afterwards Mbeumo was the first to react as Pickford pushed out a Fernandes shot, but Vitaliy Mykolenko blocked impressively.
Ever willing to get involved, Mbeumo found that his close control let him down on a couple of occasions later in the first half, and that is an area that he is going to have to improve in the role that he will be expected to play.
As if to underline the flexibility within his side, Amorim withdrew Mbeumo at half-time and replaced him with Patrick Dorgu, shifting Amad further forward into that ever-changing attack.
That change will have been to protect Mbeumo’s legs in his first outing of pre-season, as the new arrival got a glimpse of just what will be expected of him at his new club.
He’s going to have to do more than just his Brentford trick, and while he is certainly capable of it, it might just take a little time to get up to speed with his new surroundings.
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