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Bryan Mbeumo’s pre-season strike against Man United in 2022, now his debut is just days away

Originally posted on HITC | By Sean Fisher | Last updated Aug 2, 2025 5:26 AM ET

Manchester United fans won’t have to wait much longer to see new signing Bryan Mbeumo in action.

United kicked off their 2025 US pre-season tour with a 2-1 win over West Ham, keeping their unbeaten record intact.

But it was Ruben Amorim’s team selection that caught some attention, as he explained Mbeumo would need more time to match the fitness levels of his new teammates before making his debut.

The Red Devils still have two games left on the tour – Bournemouth are up next, followed by Everton, and that’s when Mbeumo is expected to make his first appearance in a United shirt.

He’ll be looking to hit the ground running before the season starts, much like he did back in 2022 when he scored against United while at Brentford.

Bryan Mbeumo’s 2022 Pre-Season Performance Against Man United

United spent £65m to bring Mbeumo over this summer, impressed by his outstanding numbers at Brentford, where he scored 20 goals last season.

Mbeumo was always a tough opponent for United during his time at Brentford, and it’s been exactly three years since he made an impression at Old Trafford in a pre-season fixture.

In that 2022 match, United and Brentford played to a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford, with Mbeumo netting the final goal to keep things close down the stretch.

The club’s match report described how Mbeumo “curled home an excellent leveller” for the visitors after earlier goals from Anthony Elanga and Andreas Pereira.

He scored past Tom Heaton in that game, who is still part of the Manchester United squad in 2025.

Ruben Amorim needs Bryan Mbeumo to hit the ground running

Plenty of United fans were hoping to see Mbeumo get his first minutes against West Ham, but it looks like he’s still getting up to speed after joining later than most.

He did get some training time with Brentford before making the switch, though it’s clear he’s still adjusting to life at United following his big-money move.

Photo by Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images

Even so, Mbeumo is expected to start when the season kicks off, lining up alongside Cunha in a completely revamped attack.

Amorim faces a brutal start to the Premier League campaign, opening against Arsenal – not exactly an easy introduction for any manager or new signing.

Mbeumo might only have two pre-season matches to build fitness, likely debuting against Everton on August 3 before Fiorentina visit Old Trafford on August 9.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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