Manchester United handed Bryan Mbeumo boost ahead of Man City derby after AFCON exit | OneFootball

Cameroon fail to reach final week of AFCON 2025 after losing to Morocco in quarter-final

Manchester United are set to have Bryan Mbeumo available for selection against Manchester City later this month.

Man United are in FA Cup action at home to Brighton this weekend, but their next Premier League clash is the Manchester derby on January 17 at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils lost 3-0 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season with Erling Haaland netting twice at the Etihad Stadium.

Brahim Diaz opened the scoring midway through the first half with his fifth goal of the tournament before Ismael Saibari put the game to bed 15 minutes from time.

Mbeumo has not featured for Man Utd since the 4-4 draw against Bournemouth last month and is not expected to feature against Brighton on Sunday despite finishing up on international duty.

Darren Fletcher, who is in temporary charge of United after the sacking of Ruben Amorim, ruled out the prospect of a swift return to action for the forward.

"I don't think so. I think it's too close a turnaround. So we'll have the same players available for the game, as we had against Burnley, so no new additions.

“Bryan and Nous will not be available for the game."

Mixed fortunes: Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui

AFP via Getty Images

While Mbeumo heads back to Manchester, Noussair Mazraoui continues his journey at AFCON with Morocco and is now guaranteed to miss the derby against Man City.

As the Atlas Lions have reached the final week of the competition, they will either take part in the third place play-off on January 17 or the final itself the following day.

Amad Diallo, the other Man Utd representative at the tournament, will bid to join Mazraoui in the semi-final as Ivory Coast face seven-time winners Egypt.