THOMAS FRANK helped transform Bryan Mbeumo from relative unknown to the “complete winger” during their six years together at Brentford.
Now Spurs chief Frank wants to use Mbeumo’s “perfect example” to develop his widemen like Brennan Johnson.
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Thomas Frank got the best out of Mbeumo at BrentfordCredit: Getty
Now the Cameroon international is impressing at Man UtdCredit: AFP
Mbeumo, October’s Player of the Month in a Manchester United double with Manager of the Month Ruben Amorim, will face his old Bees boss in North London on Saturday.
Frank said: “Right now he’s close to the complete winger, in many ways.
“He’s got pace, he can dribble, he can cross the ball, he can score goals, he works incredibly hard. He’s a good team player.
“When you work with a player for six years, you get a close relationship.
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“He is the perfect example for a player regarding attitude — confident but humble.”
Mbeumo was just 19 when he joined Brentford, then in the Championship, from French minnows Troyes for £6million in 2019.
Under Frank’s guidance, the Cameroon international became a winger capable of scoring 20 Premier League goals in a single campaign, as he did last season.
That led to his switch to United in a £71m deal — despite interest from Frank’s Spurs.
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In-form Mbeumo has three goals in his last three Premier League games.
Frank, widely regarded as a master developer of talent, will hope to have a similar effect on his Wales international Johnson, a £47.5m 2023 buy from Forest.
The 24-year-old was Spurs’ top scorer last term, netting 18 goals in all competitions including the winner in May’s Europa League final victory over United in Bilbao.
Yet questions remain over where Johnson, who scored and was later sent off during Tuesday’s 4-0 thumping of Copenhagen in the Champions League, fits in under Frank.
The Dane said: “Of course I know football is about winning, but my mindset has always been to develop people.
“So that’s what I try to do with the players we have here, together with the very good coaching staff we have.
“How I do it is try to have a positive approach to it. Of course, sometimes we need to be a little bit firmer in spells but it’s about development.
“Let’s say with Brennan it’s about, how does he be more positive? What is his position when we build up?
“How does he arrive in the box? How is his link-up play? Does he work hard enough?
“That’s conversations, that’s video clips, that’s feedback, constant feedback day in, day out.”
Brennan Johnson is not a guaranteed starter under Thomas FrankCredit: Alamy
Johnson has another supporter in his international gaffer, Craig Bellamy.
The Wales boss has backed him to turn his miserable start to the season around, saying: “It’s been a change for him with a new manager coming in.
“Last season wasn’t a great season for Spurs but he excelled in certain parts and his numbers and goals were exceptional.
“I’ve been there myself and it’s difficult when someone new comes in and you see one or two other players come in.
“So I feel he’s adjusting to that and the new manager is adjusting to him as well. I see they’re feeling each other out as well.
“I always believe quality will shine through and I’m sure that will be the case for Brennan.”
Johnson was previously tipped to become the next Gareth Bale for club and country.
But ex-Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle forward Bellamy played down those comparisons to Wales and Spurs great Bale.
Bellamy, who left Johnson on the bench for last month’s 4-2 World Cup qualifying loss to Belgium, added: “There’s no next Gareth Bale.
“He’s one in a lifetime. I’ve not seen a Gareth Bale before him and we’d be lucky enough to see another Gareth Bale ever again.
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“Hopefully we do, but I’m not hanging on to it. Brennan just has to be him and the best version of him.
“That’s a player with real high intensity, real penetration and goals.”
Bellamy has backed Johnson to turn his season aroundCredit: Alamy
