Manchester United’s talisman Bryan Mbeumo is set to return to the UK next week after Cameroon were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)
Bryan Mbeumo will return to Manchester United next week(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
In the months leading up to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Manchester United fans were sweating about how their team would be able to cope without their two big threats on the right side. Amad and Bryan Mbeumo only forged a partnership in the summer, but in the months which followed the duo became pivotal for Ruben Amorim.
As it happens, United have only lost once while the duo have been absent but when Mbeumo becomes the first Red to return to the north west post-tournament, he will find a club unrecognisable from the one he left. Amorim’s departure from Old Trafford at the beginning of the week has changed things considerably.
Mbeumo will come back to a United playing a different system with a different coach in the dugout. What will not change though is the Cameroonian’s standing in the squad. If fit, there is no question the 26-year-old will return to the starting line-up.
That is why, with Mbeumo coming back, interim head coach Darren Fletcher has an obvious decision to make. In his press conference before this weekend’s match against Brighton in the FA Cup, the Scot was asked about the academy and his response was telling.
“I just think historically, and this club’s built around the academy, we’ve got an amazing academy,” he said. “Our record speaks for itself. I’m not going to sit and stand here and say anything other than that. We’ve got an amazing record. I think it’s hard to beat in terms of the history of clubs around the world. I think we’ve got some amazing players, some amazing talents.
“I think what I see is a lot of hard-working, humble young players who aren’t perfect because they’re young and they’re learning and they’ve got a lot to do. I think we ask and expect too much of young people sometimes in society and in general, and that’s not a criticism of anybody, that’s just my beliefs.
“I think we have to let them learn, educate them, help them, understand they’re going to make mistakes and they’re going to do things that will frustrate you but through time with good guidance of coaches, family members, players in the first team squad, all of us play a part, that’s our role, that’s our job of developing them to be Manchester United players and Manchester United people.
“All I can say is my workings with those players as individuals and in general throughout the academy I deal with hard-working, honest, coachable, super talented kids and we’ve got a lot of talent in our academy and hopefully they can showcase themselves like Shea [Lacey] did when he came on against Burnley and was so close to scoring a fantastic goal.”
If this is truly how Fletcher feels, Lacey must start on Sunday against the Seagulls. When Mbeumo is back in the squad, which he won’t be this weekend, the teenager’s opportunities will drop off.
Likewise, once Amad is back, Lacey will drop further down the pecking order again. So if Fletcher trusts in the academy and their development, he needs to give a player like Lacey a chance when the opportunity presents itself.
At Burnley on Wednesday night, the 18-year-old only had six minutes to make a point but in that time, he clattered a shot off the crossbar and was lively as the Reds pushed and pushed for a winner. This is the ‘United Way’ many critics felt Amorim shied away from.
That cameo should be enough for Fletcher to take a gamble and give him that first start. If he doesn’t, there’s no denying it is a missed opportunity and you have to wonder when Lacey will get his next shot.