Mbeumo’s impact is driving Man Utd's revival

Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 10.

Player analysis: Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United)

With three goals and an assist across his last three Premier League appearances, Mbeumo’s lively form is a symbol of Man Utd's recent revival.

United head to Nottingham Forest on Saturday on the back of three consecutive Premier League wins, with the Cameroonian's fine form key to that run.

How is Amorim using Mbeumo?

Mbeumo is now playing in a 3-4-2-1 formation instead of the 4-2-3-1 used at former club Brentford, but his role is largely very similar to how he was utilised under Thomas Frank.

As reflected in the graphics below, while Mbeumo is generally accepting passes in slightly narrower positions, the nature of the service into him has barely changed.

The main difference has been adjusting to Man Utd's wing-back pushing on to work with him in closer proximity on his outside.

Mbeumo is now asked to move inside to receive a greater number of passes rather than holding his width, and that appears to suit him.

His touch count so far is nearly identical to last season's, with an average of 49.52 per 90 for Man Utd, compared with 50.47 for Brentford in 2024/25.

Mbeumo is playing more through-balls for runners from those slightly more central positions than he did at Brentford, and is also having more attempts on goal.

But he is running with the ball less, and there has been a decrease in the number of opportunities Mbeumo is creating in open play.

Remarkably, Mbeumo’s Expected Goals (xG) and Expected Assists (xA) are almost identical to last season, so it is clear he has settled into the new environment extremely well.

How Mbeumo's end product compares

Mbeumo adds athletic power

Mbeumo’s speed and dynamic movement is having a major impact on Man Utd's play.

He might be performing as one of two No 10s, but the 26-year-old is not a player who constantly asks for the ball to be played into his feet between the lines.

Mbeumo is quick – the fifth-fastest player in the league – so he understandably wants to utilise that asset by making a stream of off-the ball runs.

This trait helps Amorim’s side stretch their opponents better, and it has elevated their attacking play.

Fastest Premier League players 25/26

Not only is Mbeumo rapid across the turf, but he is also determined to use that pace whenever possible.

Until this point, only two Premier League players have made more sprints than Man Utd's summer signing.

Most sprints in Premier League 25/26

One of those lightning-fast bursts helped him score last time out against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Sprinting at full speed on a diagonal, run he lashed home from a through-ball which had been cleverly dummied by Bruno Fernandes.

Not many players would have got to the ball early enough to score with this chance.

Mbeumo reacts and scores after Fernandes' dummy

Adding quality and chaos

Last season Man Utd’s patterns of play inside the opposition half were too often formulaic, slow and predictable.

Mbeumo’s skillset has brought about an instant improvement.

He brings much-needed disorder with his prolific run-making, so Man Utd now have more potential to find space, or get in behind rival teams.

Mbeumo makes more off-the-ball runs than anyone else in the Premier League.

Most off-the-ball runs 25/26

Those pieces of intense movement have resulted in an impressive 32 shots; another league-high.

Most off-the-ball runs leading to a shot 25/26

This sensational, long-distance sprint from Mbeumo against Liverpool (below) - a run that began close to the halfway line - helped him get beyond the last man to score from Amad’s pass early on at Anfield.

We did not see enough of this type of penetrative burst from United players last season.

Nottingham Forest left-back Neco Williams and left-sided centre-back Murillo must carefully watch the way Mbeumo runs off either of them at the City Ground this weekend.

Always an outlet

Mbeumo’s positioning and desire to run off the shoulder of markers means he is a handy outlet for Man Utd when they need to go direct.

His presence in the starting XI offers deeper-lying team-mates the chance to switch play or drive a long forward pass, going from back to front a little quicker.

Mbeumo has received a league-high 73 progressive forward passes this season, and he was accustomed to this exact type of service when playing for Brentford.

Most progressive passes received 25/26

Mbeumo’s adaptation has been hugely impressive when you consider he is playing for a team that have a different shape, style and level of pressure.

But Man Utd have also tweaked their approach to suit him.

They are averaging 58 long passes per 90 minutes compared with 49 last season, and Mbeumo’s availability for switches of play, through-balls or passes knocked over the top has played a part in that.

Most switches of play received 25/26

Most through-balls received 25/26

Forest boss Sean Dyche will no doubt make plans to curb Mbeumo’s influence on Saturday, but stopping the in-form attacker will be easier said than done.

He leads Man Utd's rankings for shots (23), shots on target (12), big chances (six), big chances created (three), successful open-play crosses (seven), xA (2.04) and touches inside the opposition box (47).

When Mbeumo plays well, so do Man Utd.

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