Amad Diallo Has Shown Why He Deserves An Opportunity At Manchester United

It took a few months to get up to speed, but Amad Diallo is now excelling in the Championship and showing Sunderland fans what he is all about.

Six goals and one assist in 18 Championship appearances is a positive return, given he has only started 11 games in the league so far.

When Amad went out on loan in the previous season, to Rangers in the Scottish Premier Football League, the Ivory Coast international struggled massively. In his six-month loan, the 20 year old only managed five appearances in the league, all but one coming from substitute appearances.

As seen throughout the years, some loans work and others do not. Amad clearly did not fit the football that then manager Giovanni van Bronkhorst wanted to play and found himself sitting on the bench as an impact player.

This time round, Amad is a starting player. It took a bit of time to earn the trust of new boss Tony Mowbray, but now Amad has it, he has flourished in Sunderland’s team and has helped them up the table as they currently sit in fourth spot.

There is no denying that Manchester United now have a long list of wingers who can play on both sides, but Amad’s profile is slightly different in the sense that he can play through the middle or as a second striker if needed. While he is preferred on the right wing, there have been times where Mowbray has used him in the middle as the centre forward or on the left-hand side.

Erik Ten Hag is scouring the market with his trusted lieutenants to find a centre forward to come in to replace Cristiano Ronaldo. With the decision to terminate his contract being made during the World Cup, it has left Manchester United with one out-and-out centre forward in Anthony Martial.

While there is nothing to suggest Amad’s loan spell will be cut short – and nor should it given he needs this experience – it is certainly interesting to see whether Ten Hag sees a place for the Ivorian in his squad next season.

There was a reason Manchester United were happy to pay £20 million plus add-ons in January 2021 for an 18 year old who had rarely played for Atalanta’s senior team. A smattering of European performances had caught the eye of the Red Devils’ scouting department, with the management then activating the deal to bring him in during the January transfer window.

With such a low centre of gravity, Amad’s change of direction, quick-footedness, and precision in dribbling makes him a threat to any defence that stands in his way. As seen for Sunderland this season, he is more than willing to take on his man and put together interchanges with other teammates to get in behind them.

Having now found his feet in the North East, Amad is going from strength to strength. His latest goal came this week against Wigan Athletic, in what was a thunderous strike from 40-yards after a nice one-two that got past the on-rushing defender.

Amad hits the ball as cleanly as you would want, especially when coming in off the right-hand side and striking it with his left foot. His all-round game is certainly improving under Mowbray, but its still his quick change of pace and deft touches that really stand out.

Manchester United will navigate the second-half of the season without Amad, but it will very intriguing to see what Ten Hag decides to do with the Ivorian come pre-season ahead of the 23/24 campaign.