Gary Neville’s assessment of Bruno Fernandes’ impact against Leeds United could offer Manchester United an effective solution for Bryan Mbeumo finding his best form again.
Bryan Mbeumo made a strong start under Michael Carrick after the Manchester United interim head coach had been using him as a lone forward option in attack.
The 26-year-old Cameroon international netted three times in his first four Premier League matches under Michael Carrick’s reign before hitting a goalscoring drought.
Gary Neville was on Sky Sports punditry during Man Utd’s 2-1 defeat to Leeds United and his focus on Bruno Fernandes could provide Carrick with a solution for Mbeumo.
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Bryan Mbeumo celebrates with Bruno Fernandes during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, England, in 2025.
Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images
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Bruno Fernandes’ presence on the right at certain times could offer Bryan Mbeumo some much-needed freedom
Bryan Mbeumo was benched for Manchester United’s encounter against Leeds United before Michael Carrick brought him on for Amad Diallo in the 71st minute.
Before Mbeumo had come onto the pitch for Man Utd, Bruno Fernandes picked up an assist from a dangerous cross for Casemiro’s superb header in the 70th minute.
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During the Premier League match, Gary Neville highlighted the devastating impact that United captain Fernandes can have when he drifts into the right space.
“When Bruno Fernandes moves out into that wide right position, as an opposition player, that’s where the main threat is in the team,” he said on Sky Sports.
“He’s an assist man, a goal machine. You’ve got to close his right foot down. And in the middle, you’ve got to pick Casemiro up because he’s the best header of the ball.”
Mbeumo has been rotating at times with Benjamin Sesko in the frontline, but also offers an alternative on the right wing to Amad Diallo in Carrick’s Man Utd tactics.
If Fernandes were able to drift openly into the right space from the No 10, it could provide Mbeumo with breathing room to operate more freely on the wing.
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A title winning midfield surely?
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The Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo dynamic on the right would need to avoid a Man Utd midfield hole
Carrick’s potential use of Fernandes to complement Mbeumo on the right wing could ‘unlock’ the winger’s best potential, but it would come at a tactical risk for Man Utd as well.
Fernandes drifting out to the right would leave a major hole in the Red Devils midfield and leave the two-man pivot susceptible to a counterattack.
However, Carrick could explore either Noussair Mazraoui or Diogo Dalot vacating their right-back roles and drifting in centrally if Fernandes leaves the No 10 role open.
It would only be temporary during matches, but the extra man — whether Noussair Mazraoui or Diogo Dalot — would be enough to nullify any threat against United.
Fernandes’ versatility on the pitch shows his major influence for Man Utd and Mbeumo could be one of the first-team players to benefit from a key link-up on the right.
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