Mowbray: Amad deserves a shot at Man United

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Jan 07, 2023. 14:00

Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray says he is enjoying working with on-loan Manchester United attacker Amad Diallo and hopes the player gets a fair chance at the Premier League club in the future.

The Ivorian international joined United from Atalanta in 2021 but has made just nine competitive appearances for the club.

He spent the second half of the last campaign on loan at Scottish side Rangers, and then joined EFL Championship club Sunderland for a season-long loan in August 2022.

The 20-year-old has registered six goals and one assist from 19 league appearances this term, and Mowbray has sung the praises of Diallo ahead of their FA Cup Third Round clash away to Shrewsbury on Saturday afternoon.

“He is a special footballer, I think,” Mowbray told the Northern Echo, as quoted by Tribal Football.

“The test for him and for his parent club, of course, is, ‘Is he of the required level to try and win a Champions League and Premier League?’

“That’s what they have to decide. But for us he is an amazing player. We’re delighted he’s with us. Hopefully, he can continue for the rest of the season and do exceptionally well.”

Mowbray added: “[Manchester United manager Erik] Ten Hag has to make those calls on his footballers.

“The balance is always between the achievements of the club [and the player] – so, Manchester United have to be trying to win Premier League titles and competing in the Champions League, and it’s not about giving a young guy an opportunity to show how good he can be. They have to produce, they have to do it.

“Man United have to win. With Sunderland coming out of League One, we can try and grow the club, we don’t have to win the division this year. If we can compete in the top half, we’re doing extremely well, and he’s helping us do that.”

Mowbray outlined that in the long-run, he is rooting for Amad to get a crack at the United first-team and likened him to Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliot.

“Hopefully, he can get an opportunity at United at some stage,” he continued. “I liken him very much talent-wise to Harvey Elliot, the ball stuck to his feet, you know he’ll pick the right pass all the time, he knows when to keep it and when to release it.

“His feet are so fast, and Harvey is doing okay at Liverpool, so hopefully Amad will break through that glass ceiling at United. But it’s never easy for young players.”