Erik ten Hag was asked about the prospect of recalling Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo in January.
The Ivorian is currently enjoying a fine loan spell at Sunderland and is making a name for himself in the Championship, having scored six goals and assisted one.
He is being given adequate game time to develop by Tony Mowbray as he has made 19 league appearances so far this season; 12 as a starter and seven as a substitute.
Sunderland were promoted to the second division after winning the playoff final last summer and are already rivalling the playoff places for the chance to move up to the Premier League, in which they haven’t competed since the 2016/2017 campaign.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils are on the hunt for a striker this transfer window. The forward department at Old Trafford is significantly depleted in comparison with other positions, even more so since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure.
The premise of Amad returning to bolster the ranks was broached to Ten Hag in his latest press conference on MUTV. He responded: “We consider everything. As long as it’s strengthening the squad. But at the same time, I have a little bit of a reservation for that because I don’t want to stop the process. He’s [making] really good progress there, so I’m happy with that.
“But I know also, they need experiences, young players. When we decide [for him] to come back, he has to be a player who can be starting XI, compete for starting XI [at a] minimum, for a lot of games to come in and have an impact.”
Why did Ten Hag send Amad on loan?
The manager then explained his decision to send the 20-year-old on loan after he took charge, adding: “Because in that moment, I didn’t see him as a starting XI or a player who already had an impact, but I see and I value his potential and his capabilities.
“I saw that he needs experience in men’s football, senior football. I think in many aspects of football, to get stronger physically, mentally, also skills-wise to improve that, to develop that, so that he can have value for us.”
