Manchester United have been handed a significant squad boost ahead of next Sunday's crucial derby clash with rivals Manchester City, with top scorer Bryan Mbeumo set to return to action.
AFCON Exit Paves Way for Early Return
The former Brentford forward has been absent for United's last five matches after departing to join the Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon's tournament ended in the quarter-finals with a 2-0 defeat to Morocco in Rabat on Friday, freeing Mbeumo to rejoin his club.
Following the loss, Mbeumo expressed frustration over a key refereeing decision, insisting his side should have been awarded a penalty. "I felt he touched me. And they showed me the footage after the match: it’s very, very obvious," Mbeumo said. He questioned whether the match was decided on that moment but acknowledged his team's slow start.
Fletcher Rules Out Brighton Comeback
While Mbeumo will be available for the Manchester derby, interim manager Darren Fletcher confirmed the turnaround was too quick for him to feature in this Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie against Brighton. The same applies to Moroccan defender Noussair Mazraoui, whose nation progressed further in the tournament.
"I don’t think so, too close a turnaround from the tournament," Fletcher stated regarding their availability for the Brighton match. "We will have the same players available for the game against Burnley so no new additions. Bryan and Nous will not be available."
United's Injury Crisis Eases
The return of Mbeumo comes as United's lengthy injury list finally begins to shorten. Key midfielder Bruno Fernandes made his return in Wednesday night's match against Burnley, with young star Kobbie Mainoo also coming off the bench in that fixture. Defender Harry Maguire is also now fit.
This leaves Matthijs de Ligt as the only remaining confirmed absentee for the derby showdown at the Etihad Stadium. United's squad was severely depleted during the AFCON period, also coping with the injuries to Fernandes and Mainoo.
Meanwhile, the club's other AFCON participant, Amad Diallo, has excelled for Ivory Coast, scoring three times to help them reach the quarter-finals, where they face Egypt. Mazraoui's Morocco will contest a semi-final on Wednesday, with the AFCON final scheduled for Sunday – the day after the Manchester derby.
Off the pitch, uncertainty remains over who will be in the dugout for the derby. Fletcher will lead the team against Brighton, while the club holds talks regarding a caretaker manager until season's end, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick both involved in discussions.
