Erik ten Hag will be hoping that after the international break, Amad Diallo will be ready for his return from a long-standing injury.
This season was the one which we all thought Amad Diallo would establish himself in the first-team. After a really impressive 14-goal and four assist loan last season at Sunderland, many were excited to see him in the Premier League.
However a pre-season injury has seen his early season plans scuppered and has been out over two months already. But he is believed to be on the verge of a return, with a late October return being suggested.
The Ivorian has himself suggested a return is near with a message on his Instagram saying, “Just a little longer before returning.”
Amad’s return could be incredibly timely for Erik ten Hag, with recent weeks seeing a combination of different right-wing options fail to click.
Antony’s return hasn’t seen Ten Hag immediately place him back into the starting XI, and Bruno Fernandes has struggled out wide, while Facundo Pellistri doesn’t seem ready for starts. So with Amad believed to be returning imminently, Ten Hag will be hoping he can unleash a Fernandes regen in the next few weeks.
Amad a very similar player to Fernandes
Last season, Amad’s boss at Sunderland who got the best out of him suggested that the 21-year-old is similar to a current United player.
The Daily Mail reported that Mowbray viewed Amad as a regen of the current captain at Old Trafford.
“I see United games, I watch a lot of football, and Bruno [Fernandes] plays a bit of everywhere, off the right sometimes, inside as a 10 or as a running 8, he can play deep and link the midfield up. Amad is a similar type of footballer.”
Amad being so excellent and versatile along with being a goal and assist machine explains why he has drawn comparison to Bruno.
Physically, Amad is far better suited to playing in the number 10 position or a role similar to Bruno’s when he has played on the right-wing.
How does he fit in?
If Ten Hag is to unleash Amad when he has returned, it needs to be in a position and role which gives him the best shot at success in the team.
Amad likely won’t slot into the starting-XI straight away which is fair, he won’t be expected too, and probably has Pellistri as his immediate competition.
But giving him minutes either as a Fernandes rotation, or on the right, assuming he isn’t being tasked with doing winger things and instead is an inverted winger.
But long-term, Amad has everything to be a quality number 10 and with Fernandes nearing his 30’s, no better time than now to start priming his successor.
With interest now resurfacing from Sunderland with a potential January move suggested, United need to play him now rather than later.
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