Manchester United duo Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu were both on target for Cameroon and Denmark respectively during the international break, providing under-pressure head coach Michael Carrick with an encouraging reminder of the attacking options at his disposal.
Carrick is beginning to feel the pressure, with United winning just two of their seven matches in all competitions this season. Those victories came against Ipswich Town in the Premier League and Sabah in the Champions League, while they were held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham in their final game before the international break.
Concerns Beyond Results
It is not just the results that have raised concerns, but also the quality of the opposition and the manner of some of United's defeats. Performances have not been good enough, with issues evident at both ends of the pitch. Defensively, United have looked vulnerable, while questions have also been raised about their fitness levels.
Crucial Clash With Tottenham
After the international break, United return to action against Tottenham at Old Trafford in a fixture that could have major implications for Carrick. It is a game United will be desperate to avoid losing. A victory would go some way towards easing the pressure on Carrick, while anything less could see the scrutiny intensify once again.
Things then become even more challenging, with United facing a demanding run of away fixtures against Atletico Madrid, Leeds United and Como in the space of just over a week. It may be too early to describe that run as make or break, but if things do not go to plan against Spurs, it could quickly start to feel that way.
Timely Goals for Duo
There is little point getting caught up in hypotheticals over what each result might mean just yet, but there is no denying that the next couple of weeks could prove hugely important for Carrick and his United project. With Carrick reportedly given just a handful of games to save his Manchester United job, criticised duo Mbeumo and Dorgu sent their boss a timely message during the international break by both finding the net. Dorgu even produced a stunning strike from the right wing.
While both players have faced their share of criticism this season, their goals provided a timely reminder that they can be relied upon to deliver in front of goal when the Reds need them most. They will now be hoping to carry that goalscoring form into United's crucial clash with Tottenham on October 10 (5:30pm).
