Sam Allardyce has felt that one Manchester United star has stood out even more than the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha under Michael Carrick.
Bruno Fernandes has impressed in the first two Premier League matches of Michael Carrick’s reign as interim Red Devils head coach at Old Trafford.
Should Manchester United keep Bruno Fernandes this summer, or is the time right to sell for big money?
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
The 31-year-old Manchester United captain has returned to an advanced position on the pitch, having been played in a deeper midfield role under Ruben Amorim.
United interim head coach Carrick has deployed Fernandes in the No 10 role and the Portugal and Red Devils midfielder has been in his element in the position.
Fernandes picked up back-to-back Premier League assists in the Manchester City and Arsenal matches after Carrick’s Man Utd tactical tweak to the player’s role.
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty ImagesBruno Fernandes has impressed for Man Utd, but Sam Allardyce is all about the impact of Bryan Mbeumo under Michael Carrick
Bruno Fernandes has been playing in support of Bryan Mbeumo, who has been deployed as the lone forward under Manchester United interim boss Michael Carrick.
Carrick dropped Benjamin Sesko to the bench in favour of playing Bryan Mbeumo centrally, which has paid off already for the Red Devils in their last two matches.
Bryan Mbeumo was lethal with limited opportunities vs Arsenal, is centre-forward his best position?
Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Mbeumo netted in Man Utd’s 2-0 win over Manchester City in the Premier League clash at Old Trafford before he found the back of the net against Arsenal as well.
Sam Allardyce has admitted that Carrick’s reign has benefited from the 26-year-old Mbeumo returning from his Cameroon duties at the 2025 AFCON tournament.
“There’s obviously a bonus on getting a couple of players back from the Africa Cup and a couple of injuries back that’s made them better,” he said on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.
“Mbeumo, particularly, I think he’s dynamite, me.”
Sam Allardyce’s assessment of Bryan Mbeumo and Co after Michael Carrick’s first two Man Utd matches
Bryan Mbeumo has been a standout performer this season and had already impressed under Ruben Amorim before the former United manager was sacked.
However, the tail end of Ruben Amorim’s managerial spell at Man Utd saw the 41-year-old Portuguese coach lose Mbeumo to the Africa Cup of Nations competition.
With Ruben Amorim SACKED, where will Manchester United finish in 2025/26?
Let’s see your predictions!
Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Despite the impact of Mbeumo and Co, Allardyce admitted that he is curious if Man Utd can maintain their momentum for the remainder of the season under Carrick.
“So, I think that the team has been revitalised,” he said.
“It’s whether you can keep it up or not.”
Carrick has secured back-to-back Premier League wins against Man City and Arsenal after he returned to Old Trafford as interim head coach earlier this month.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox