Why Golden Boot contender Bryan Mbeumo is key to Brentford’s survival

Hard-working off the ball, potent with it, the Cameroon forward needs to stay fit for the Bees to prosper
By Ben McAleer for WhoScored
Ben McAleerTue 15 Oct 2024 06.24 EDTLast modified on Tue 15 Oct 2024 06.26 EDTShareWith domestic duties back on the horizon, Erling Haaland will look to add to his 10 Premier League goals. The Manchester City striker has inexplicably failed to score in his past two league outings, allowing Golden Boot rivals a sniff at overhauling him. One of those who has closed the gap is Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.
Mbeumo has six league goals after scoring for the third game running in Brentford’s entertaining 5-3 win over Wolves before the international break. After Brentford flirted with relegation last season, his sprint start has been welcomed with open arms there.
Brentford’s mid-season dip in 2023-24 coincided with Mbeumo’s lengthy spell on the sidelines. He was restricted to 22 league starts last term owing to an ankle injury sustained against Brighton in December that required surgery and ruled him out for three months. Of the 13 league matches Mbeumo missed, Brentford won two, one of which was the 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest that marked Ivan Toney’s return from a ban.
Next Generation 2024: 20 of the best talents at Premier League clubsRead moreTen defeats in that 13-game run meant the Bees plummeted, and much of that was down to Mbeumo’s absence. The return of Toney at least gave Brentford the minor shot in the arm they needed to help keep their heads above water.
After Toney dominated the gossip columns over the summer, Brentford must have breathed a sigh of relief when the transfer window closed, safe in the knowledge that Mbeumo would spend at least the first half of the campaign with them. Frank’s side can barely function without the 25-year-old.
Their win ratio last season dropped from 36.4% to 12.5% when Mbeumo didn’t start. They scored fewer goals a game (1.19, down from 1.68) and conceded more goals a game (2.13, up from 1.41) when the Cameroon international didn’t feature from the outset. In the current injury crisis at Brentford, with the strikers Igor Thiago and Yoane Wissa sidelined, Mbeumo is holding the attack together.
This is evident not only in the goals he has scored – and having outperformed his xG by 3.03, he’s on course to enjoy his most prolific Premier League campaign – but the range of options he brings. Mbeumo ranks top for shots (16) and key passes (14) among Brentford players and second for successful dribbles (five). In addition, his hard work off the ball allows the team to win possession in dangerous areas and turn defence into attack.
View image in fullscreenBryan Mbeumo takes on West Ham’s defence last month. His ability to win back possession is as important as his finishing, Photograph: Rhianna Chadwick/PABrentford’s possession average of 45.7% ranks 14th in England’s top tier this term, so it’s crucial that the attacking players put in the hard yards to force high turnovers. Only Dejan Kulusevski and Antoine Semenyo (both 11) have won possession more in the attacking third than Mbeumo (10). Frank must be hoping injury doesn’t strike Mbeumo in the way it did last season, or else they may face a relegation dogfight.
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The downside for Brentford of Mbeumo’s form will be the increased interest in his services. He has a little more than 18 months on his contract, though the club have an option to extend by a year, so Brentford are likely to find themselves in a tough position over his future before too long.
Toney’s return last season combined with Mbeumo’s absence meant the latter’s impressive campaign flew under the radar. If the opening weeks of this season are anything to go by, Brentford fans should bear witness to a career-defining campaign from Mbeumo.