Owen Hargreaves believes Manchester United should deploy Bryan Mbeumo as a striker to reignite Bruno Fernandes’ attacking instincts.
It has proved another lacklustre start to the season for Ruben Amorim’s side, who have won just two of their first six Premier League games.
Amorim is still yet to win successive league games since replacing Erik ten Hag last November, and has ammased just 33 points from 34 games in that time.
Over the summer, United sought to address the lack of goals in their squad with the signings of Benajmin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Mbeumo, but the trio have just two league goals combined so far this season.
Whatsmore, the arrival of Mbeumo and Cunha, in particular, has forced Amorim to rethink his lineup, with the Portuguese tactician dropping Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes into deeper positions to accomodate his summer signings.
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And while confident that Mbeumo and Cunha will prove their worth in a United shirt, Hargreaves is concerned that Amorim’s decision to deploy Fernandes in the heart of midfield is wasting his captain’s talents.
‘They decided to get goals and sign proven Premier League players in Cunha and Mbeumo, which I like,’ he told TNT Sports.
‘But now Bruno has to play deeper to get on the ball and create. He’s not playing his natural position, he’s playing deeper.
‘He’s playing as a box-to-box midfielder. Bruno’s one of the best creators in the division. So you’ve got to play him in his natural position.
‘But because they play two 10s, you could argue Man Utd’s two best players last season were Amad [Diallo] and Bruno.
‘They were the two 10s, and then they went and signed two more 10s in Cunha and Mbeumo when you didn’t have a keeper or a striker.’
Amorim has been unwavering when faced with calls to tinker with his style, but Hargreaves urged the United boss to consider dropping Sesko and making a subtle tweak to get Fernandes in more advanced areas.
‘I’d love to see Bruno play as a 10, maybe with Mbeumo as a No. 9,’ the former United midfielder added. ‘If you have Cunha and Bruno playing as two 10s plus Mbeumo, that’s good.
‘Maybe play Amad as a wing-back on the left if you want to stay with the formation. I just think it’s harsh on Bruno, him being criticised. I can’t imagine where they’d be without him. I said that to him last year, towards the end of the season before the Europa League final.
‘What he’s been able to produce in terms of consistency for them, that’s what you need from everybody.’
United will look to get back to winning ways in the league on Saturday as they host the impressive Sunderland, who sit fifth after three wins from their first six back in the top flight.