Mbeumo is easing burden on Bruno Fernandes, says former United star

Manchester United spent much of the summer chasing two high-profile Premier League targets - Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford and Matheus Cunha from Wolves. Both attackers enjoyed stellar seasons with their previous clubs, which led United to believe they needed to inject new energy into their attacking options. The pair have made impressive starts to life at Old Trafford, with Mbeumo, in particular, standing out early on.

We caught up with former Manchester United defender Wes Brown to get his thoughts on how the duo have fared so far, alongside how he feels Benjamin Šeško has settled into life in the Premier League and the form of England international Luke Shaw.

Mbeumo praised for instant impact

It’s been quite the start for Bryan Mbeumo, who has scored six goals and registered an assist in his opening 12 games for Ruben Amorim’s side across all competitions — with five of those goals coming in the Premier League. United currently sit seventh in the table, and that’s largely thanks to Mbeumo’s form. He’s settled into life at a big club with impressive ease.

The real challenge for Amorim will be keeping Mbeumo in this vein of form while ensuring he can also get the best out of Cunha and Benjamin Šeško - the latter still adapting to a new league and country. Brown admires all three players and believes Šeško’s best is still to come.

“I feel like Mbuemo and Cunha have a purpose. Mbuemo has an end product, but if he has a quieter game, Cunha will step up. Everything is about helping your teammate and both of them can do that.”

“I like Sesko and his hold up play is good. He is getting himself in some good positions so the goals will come.”

“If we are getting him more involved and getting him in the right positions, which I think will happen with the players we have, then I think he will become very good.”

“Mbeumo has come straight in, having no problems and is just doing what he has done for the last two or three seasons. Cunha is a different player to Mbeumo and Sesko has been finding his feet the last few games.”

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Bruno no Longer has to save the day thanks to Mbeumo and Cunha

One of the biggest talking points this season has been Bruno Fernandes’ new, deeper role. Amorim has deployed the captain in a double pivot, positioning him further from goal. Bruno made his name as a goalscoring number ten with a knack for creativity, but this new role demands patience and control - qualities he’s beginning to display more often, according to Brown, alongside the once ostracised Brazilian Casemiro and at the expense of academy midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.

“The team has to keep learning and push forward. I love our right hand side. Amad is great, particularly when he is able to focus on attacking, as I think defending is something he can work on in his game. He has never done it before, but that right hand side can become very scary for other teams. I love it.”

“I feel like Bruno is starting to understand that there are other players in the team that can do what he always tries to do. Bruno usually did what he did because others weren’t always stepping up, but it didn`t work all the time. He understands now that he can utilise the talent of the likes of Mbeumo and Cunha.”

Questions are now being asked following United’s upturn in form as to what their ambitions for the season could be, but Brown feels as though it’s still too early to be shooting for the stars and claims the likes of Liverpool and City remain better sides than United.

“I think any position in the league which gives access to European football would be a big bonus. Can we get Champions League football? We’ll see, but it is way too early to say what will happen.”

“But Man United haven't had a consistent run of form for a long time, but now the team has a very good balance. I still think Liverpool and Man City are better, but they can't worry about other teams.”

United’s team spirit finally emerging

From the outside looking in, one of United’s long-term problems has been morale - the dressing room atmosphere and overall camaraderie. Years of leaks, managerial issues, and public fallouts have tarnished the club’s image when it comes to togetherness. However, Brown believes things are finally turning around and can see evidence of this on the field with the way the players are together on the pitch. Their most recent comeback against Tottenham, when a man dow,n suggests things could be changing under Amorim.

“I like watching how the lads are with each other. It looks like they have a strong bond right now. Now, Amorim has played with the same team in multiple games in a row, and that consistency is important. This is probably the first time he is thinking that this is a strong and solid team.”

“The lads are starting to get to know each other a bit more and they know what they can all do. Amorim is starting to understand his players and vice versa.”

Luke Shaw’s World Cup hopes assessed

One of the key players to have been a mainstay in Amorim’s side this season has been Luke Shaw, who is fighting back from his latest injury issue of which there have been many that have plagued his career.

This season, the full back by trade has been used as the left-sided centre half in a back three in the absence of Lisandro Martinez, and Brown was full of praise for the England international. He also believes that he still has a chance of forcing his way into Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad next summer.

“Luke as a football player is unbelievable. He gets back in position quickly. He can run, pass and bring the ball out. Now, it will be interesting when Martinez returns because you can then have Shaw at left wing back and Martinez left sided central defender if Martinez is playing well. That way you’re more balanced.”

“For all the stick Luke has had previously, he’s just got on with it. When he’s asked to play he just gets back in. More or less, he’ll get the better of his man, and he does the right things quietly and then calls it a day. He’s done really well but he’s never not played well for Man United. The problem is the injuries. If he can stay fit then there’s no problem there.”

Should United have sold Alvaro Fernandez?

Finally, Brown reflected on Alvaro Fernandez’s departure - the young left-back who is now thriving under Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid. Fernandez was sold during Erik ten Hag’s reign having spent time on loan at Preston before his move to Benfica, where he established himself as a first-team footballer. Interestingly, Brown drew comparisons to former teammates of his whose quality was never in doubt, but whose time at United simply didn’t work out.

“In football it’s really hard. Look at Diego Forlan. He came to United and we knew he was good but sometimes it just doesn’t quite work for whatever reason. He goes away to Atletico Madrid and it works out. As team mates we know his quality. Sebastian Veron was the same. It didn’t work because he was in the same role as Roy Keane.”

“He liked to get on the ball from the back but we were giving the ball to Keano. Veron then had to receive the ball in different areas but no one can tell me he wasn’t a great player. I trained with him everyday. I can tell you how good he was.”

“Sometimes things just don’t add up. Look at Pique who is probably the prime example. Played shading Bolton and struggled. Up against Kevin Davies and Anelka which is tough. We know how good he is but then he has Rio and Vidic to go up against. Went to Barcelona and won everything you can think of. Sometimes the timing doesn’t align.”

Read more as Wes Brown hails former club Sunderland's excellent return to life in the Premier League