Manchester United’s first team is finally shedding the tag of underachievers after three wins on the trot, and Ruben Amorim should be delighted that he could be about to get a new first-team player as well.
Regardless of what Sir Jim Ratcliffe says about the academy and its role as a cash cow, the Man Utd ethos will forever be about supplying players for the first team.
Loans are a crucial step towards achieving that, which is why United sanctioned a remarkable 18 loans last summer.
Those include the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and more, who will never play for the club again, but one youngster showed he’s ready to return after putting in another sterling display.
Harry Amass is taking a leap at Sheffield Wednesday
Harry Amass secured arguably the most intriguing loan of the transfer window at Old Trafford by signing a season-long loan deal at Sheffield Wednesday.
Wednesday are in deep financial peril, so this was United’s way of hitting two birds with one stone.
Not only has Amass become the first name on a depleted teamsheet, he’s having to perform in dire circumstances where the club is struggling to survive, posing a huge mental test.
Amass has shone for Wednesday despite the team in free-fall, and he continued that pattern in their latest game.
Wednesday lost again, this time at home to Oxford United, but Amass, playing as the wing-back/wide midfielder, stood out for his all-action display.
As per FotMob, Amass finished the game with 81 touches, creating one chance, recovering the ball seven times, and completing 43 of his 51 passes.
- 81 touches
- 3 tackles
- 2 clearances
- 7 recoveries
- 0.74 xG + xA
- 2 shots
- 9 duels won
It follows a similar performance in the previous game which raised calls about him being recalled early, and this game will do nothing to silence those suggestions.
Harry Amass has a clear path at Man Utd
Unlike somebody, say, Kobbie Mainoo, Amass has a clear path at Man Utd because left wing-back is still a sore spot at Old Trafford.
Patrick Dorgu is a raw athletic monster, Diogo Dalot is a serviceable option whose natural position isn’t on the left, and Diego Leon is nowhere near ready enough for the first team.
In such a situation, Amass can come in with a rich Championship experience next season in challenging circumstances to stake his claim for a first-team role.
It was widely believed that Leon had been chosen over Amass since the latter was sent on loan, but it was probably a decision to minimise upheaval in Leon’s life, while challenging Amass to take the next step.
Amass hasn’t just taken the next step; he’s taken a proper leap, and he’s now ready to return to United’s first team with renewed readiness.
Whether it’s in January or the summer remains to be seen, but if he keeps getting regular senior football at Wednesday, there’s no reason why United should take it from him mid-season.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
