Gary Neville voiced his concern about a potential injury to Bryan Mbeumo after observing the attacker ‘shaking his head’ and talking with Diogo Dalot as he was substituted during Manchester United’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford. Benjamin Sesko was introduced as a substitute for the 26-year-old and scored United’s third goal of the game to maintain United’s impressive run.

Mbeumo has been subbed in each of United’s last three matches. However, this time he appeared to be limping as he left the pitch. The forward seemed to have a brief exchange with Dalot as he departed the pitch. Neville noticed this interaction with his colleague whilst providing co-commentary for the match on Sky Sports. Neville asked: “Is he injured? Is he limping, Mbeumo? He was shaking his head when he walked off and looked at one of the United players as if he might be carrying something.”

Mbeumo’s demeanour will undoubtedly cause some concern for United and manager Michael Carrick. The forward hasn’t found the net for United in his previous five Premier League games, despite being one of their standout players this season.

United were leading 2-1 at that point, with Mbeumo replaced five minutes after Matheus Cunha had restored their lead for the hosts. Casemiro had provided the hosts with an early second-half advantage before Ross Barkley equalised for Villa under contentious circumstances, with Amadou Onana narrowly escaping a VAR decision against him.

Sesko subsequently netted United’s third and final goal just five minutes after replacing Mbeumo. From that moment onwards, they controlled the game, with Manuel Ugarte coming on for Casemiro during the closing stages.

Mbeumo has appeared in every match under Carrick, with the first fixture he oversaw, against Manchestre City, coinciding with the Cameroon international’s comeback from the Africa Cup of Nations. Nonetheless, he was withdrawn in all bar one of those games.

Mbeumo finally saw out the entire 90 minutes at West Ham United, providing the assist for Sesko’s 96th-minute equaliser. The pair combined once again for the only goal in United’s 1-0 triumph over Everton before he hobbled off seven minutes later, with Noussair Mazraoui taking his place.

This sparked doubts about his fitness for the Crystal Palace clash, yet he started and lasted 85 minutes before Zirkzee was introduced. Carrick utilised the same substitution during their 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United.

Their next fixture comes on Friday evening, with a shorter-than-normal break before the trip to Bournemouth. Mbeumo may be an early doubt for that encounter.

That said, it marks their final match ahead of the international break, meaning United won’t play again until April 13. Therefore, should Mbeumo be absent on the south coast, there’s a fortnight available for him to recover before Carrick must call upon him once more.

Meanwhile, Sunday’s victory has solidified United’s grip on a Champions League berth. Carrick’s team now comfortably occupies third place and crucially, holds a three-point lead over the fifth spot.