To play the piano and predict Brentford’s fast starts

Mbeumo has responded to the departure of Ivan Toney by taking on even more responsibilities and improving his game even more.

“I feel like a leader of the team. Everyone has to take responsibility, but I’ve been at the club for five years. At some point, you have to be a leader. I don’t feel any pressure (after Toney’s move to Arabia Saudi Arabia) At the end of the day, I know what I have to do.

“Maybe I have more expectations from the fans or people off the pitch, but if you want to reach the steps you want, you have to accept that.”

Casual Brentford observers might assume this is Mbeumo’s first campaign as the main man in their attack. Early in his England career, following his move from Troyes in 2019, team-mates Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma grabbed most of the headlines. Then, when Brentford established themselves in the Premier League, it was Toney.

Brentford fans, however, will know that Mbeumo has been a vital player for some time. Last season, losing Mbeumo for 13 games had a much bigger impact on the results than Toney’s long absence. With Mbeumo, Brentford won 1.3 points per game. Without him, they won just 0.5.

“I don’t want to put limits on myself,” Mbeumo says of his personal development. “I think I can always go higher. I want to be the best at what I do, every time.”

“The angry FPL community makes me laugh”

Mbeumo’s commitment to self-improvement extends to his reading choices. Celebrate goals by pretending to read a book, in honor of a friend who works in performance coaching and is reading The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz. Mbeumo also uses brain training apps to improve his cognitive skills.

It is clear that the Cameroon international, who was born and raised in France, is a man who cares deeply about his craft. That discipline has helped him grow as Brentford have grown, to become a Premier League star as they have become a Premier League club.

“To be honest, I had never heard of Brentford before they approached me,” he says of his move from French second division side Troyes at the age of 19. “But when I met Thomas, I think he knew where I wanted to go. They had seen 28 of my 35 games in Ligue 2. They really wanted me.”

Mbeumo could not have known then that within five years he would have matured into one of the best strikers in English football and indeed a sensation in the popular Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game.

A quarter of all FPL players worldwide have picked him in their squad this season. Mbeumo doesn’t play it himself, but his presence is clearly felt.

“The FPL people, oh my God…” he laughs. “Sometimes when I have a bad game, I like to look on social media and see what people think. When I see the FPL players, they are very angry about my performance. It makes me laugh a bit.