Man Utd’s XI during AFCON without Bryan Mbeumo as key man returns | Football | Sport

Manchester United returned to form on Monday evening with a commanding 4-1 victory over Wolves at Molineux. The Red Devils enjoyed a comfortable outing, with Bryan Mbeumo finding the net alongside a Bruno Fernandes brace and a Mason Mount strike. United also fielded Amad and Noussair Mazraoui in the triumph, which could pose challenges for the Red Devils as the festive period approaches.

Mbeumo, Amad and Mazraoui will all link up with their respective nations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) this month. While the precise date of their departure remains unclear, it is anticipated to be imminent. After the Wolves victory, Ruben Amorim expressed optimism that the trio might be available for next Monday’s clash with Bournemouth. He said: “The club is talking with the national teams. Let’s wait for the middle of the week. I don’t know for sure, but we are doing our job and the national teams are talking with us and that is a good sign.”

Mazraoui’s Morocco kick off their tournament on Sunday, December 21, coinciding with the Reds’ Premier League trip to Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Mbeumo’s Cameroon and Amad’s Ivory Coast commence their AFCON campaign slightly later on Christmas Eve.

As Amorim indicates, the departure schedule for the trio should become apparent this week, but plans for reshaping the squad in their absence must be formulated immediately. With this in mind, Express Sport theorises how the Red Devils might line up without their African trio in the coming weeks…

The first area to consider is the defence where Mazraoui has been chosen over Leny Yoro in recent matches. The Frenchman seemed to have secured the right centre-back spot until challenging performances against Everton and Crystal Palace saw him dropped from the starting XI.

Yoro has been used as a substitute and it’s likely that with the Moroccan out of action, he will be reinstated in the team. When fully fit, Matthijs de Ligt would join the defence but since Amorim confessed he’s unsure when the Dutchman will return, Ayden Heaven is an option but Lisandro Martinez – previously a vital player prior to injury – is nearing full fitness and may therefore come back into the side.

Next up is the right wing-back position currently held by Amad. The Ivorian has been the standout wing-back at the club this season, adjusting well to the role.

Diogo Dalot has shown progress in recent games and the logical move would be to shift him to his favoured right side with Patrick Dorgu brought back on the left.

Dalot and Dorgu have split duties on the left but the former should appear much more at ease on the right in Amad’s absence. Arguably the biggest loss will be Mbeumo.

He was back on the scoresheet on Monday night and is the Reds’ leading scorer with six goals in the Premier League – placing him joint fifth across the entire top flight.

The return of Matheus Cunha from injury is a boost for United, as he can slot into the No. 10 role alongside Mason Mount, who is currently in his finest form since transferring to Old Trafford from Chelsea.

This would position either Joshua Zirkzee or first-choice No.9 Benjamin Sesko, once fit, at the forefront. Amorim indicated last month that Sesko’s comeback would coincide with the departure of players for AFCON. His agent has assured that his return will be ‘very soon’, but it’s still uncertain whether the Slovenian will be back in time for the first match without the trio. Beyond then, though, he should lead the line.

Man Utd‘s likely starting XI without AFCON trio: Lammens; Yoro, Martinez, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mount, Cunha; Sesko