Ahmad and Mbemo have made a quick return to the team, and they are expected to play in the derby.

2026-01-15 02:46

Ahead of the highly anticipated Manchester derby, Manchester United are about to host Manchester City at Old Trafford, and some exciting news has come from their training ground, Carrington.

The attacking duo of Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo, who previously represented the national team in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), officially rejoined the team on Wednesday.

Ahmad (Ivory Coast) and Mbemo (Cameroon) previously helped their respective national teams reach the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. While their national team's elimination is regrettable, for Manchester United, it means that two key attacking players can be freed up early to support the club.

With young player Shea Lacey suspended due to a red card, Noussair Mazraoui will remain with Morocco for the semi-final. The return of these two key reinforcements instantly enriches manager Michael Carrick's tactical options for Saturday's midday match against Manchester City.

This season, Ahmad and Mbemo have shown amazing chemistry in the attacking third. The two have combined for nine goals and are indispensable to the team's attack. Their last appearance for Manchester United was in the 4-4 draw against Bournemouth on December 15th last year.

In addition to these two key players, Khabib Ogunnaye, who just returned from loan spells, and the Fletcher twins, among others, also participated in training, bolstering the team's depth. Carrick will reveal further details about preparations for the derby at Friday afternoon's press conference.