After a staggering start out of the blocks at Sunderland, Manchester United loanee Amad managed to build up promising momentum for the Black Cats ahead of the World Cup break.
It’s been quite an 18 months since he netted his sole senior United goal against AC Milan in the Europa League. The Ivorian had a largely underwhelming spell at Rangers in the second half of last season and his £38m transfer from Atalanta in 2021 had started to look questionable.
After playing 149 minutes across four substitute appearances for Erik ten Hag in pre-season, another loan spell looked inevitable. He made just two starts in his first eight games at Sunderland, although came off the bench in each of them.
READ MORE: Manchester United staff optimistic Amad can succeed at club
He briefly dropped down to the Under-21s before coming back to start every first-team game for Sunderland and end the first half of the season with a healthy return of three goals and an assist in his last five outings.
The Manchester Evening News revealed this week that United still see a future for Amad at Old Trafford. The forward has impressed Stadium of Light boss Tony Mowbray and The Chronicle’s chief Sunderland reporter, James Hunter, has now given the low-down on his progress in the Championship.
How has Amad fared at the Stadium of Light so far?
James Hunter: Amad needed time to settle in at Sunderland and to get up to speed - he had to wait over a month for his first start - but since then he has been a big hit.
He was used sparingly from the bench at first, before starting his first game at the beginning of October, then finding himself back on the subs' bench.
But he started five games in a row leading up to the World Cup break and that was when he hit his stride, scoring three good goals and establishing himself in the side.
He has been used wide on the right or, when injuries left Sunderland without a centre-forward, through the middle, but he has definitely looked better in his natural position on the wing.
How have the fans taken to Amad? Has their perception altered since he first arrived?
JH: He arrived as an unknown quantity but, having joined from Manchester United and with reports that his move from Atalanta to Old Trafford could end up costing around £38m, there was a sense that he must have something.
He got off to a slow start but now he's fast becoming a fan-favourite after his performances - and goals - of late.
He briefly dropped down to the Under-21s in October but has seemed to kick on in the first team ever since. Was there a specific reason he dropped down?
JH: He played one game for the U21s, against Leeds United, in October but that was at a stage where he was still building match fitness.
I think he'd only started one first-team game at that point and Tony Mowbray gave Amad, along with a couple of other players who joined late in the transfer window, a run-out in the U21s just to give them some minutes. Not long after that, he was ready to start games in the Championship.
There’s been a change in managers while he’s been there and Tony Mowbray seems to like him. How did he react?
JH: Amad joined Sunderland at the end of August, and by that point Alex Neil had already left and Mowbray was installed as head coach.
I think the deal will probably have been negotiated during the crossover period with Neil already on his way and the incoming Mowbray having little influence. But, given the sporting director/head coach model that Sunderland have in place, that wasn't a major issue. As far as Amad is concerned, Mowbray is the only coach he has worked under at Sunderland.
What has Mowbray said about him?
JH: In the early days, Mowbray praised Amad's ability but tempered it by pushing him to be more selfish in front of goal and improve his end product. That approach seems to have worked, and in recent times Mowbray has labelled Amad "an amazing footballer" and "a real talent".
Mowbray also said that, given the price Manchester United apparently paid for him, he found it hard to believe he was playing at Sunderland in the Championship!
What has Amad done well during his loan spell so far and what does he need to improve on?
JH: His pace and trickery have given Sunderland something they badly needed in the final third, and his goals have been a huge help while their centre-forwards have been missing. He has begun to come up with the end-product that Mowbray was calling for, and basically he needs to continue increasing the numbers of goals and assists he contributes.
What do Sunderland want to see from him from now until the end of the season?
JH: Again, goals and assists. That was what he was brought here to provide, and he has already shown that he has the quality - now Sunderland want to see quantity!
After a promising start to life at Old Trafford, his United career has somewhat stalled but, going by his showings for Sunderland, do you think he can become a Reds first-team regular one day?
JH: It's a big step up, obviously, from shining in the Championship to playing regularly for a club like Manchester United where success is measured in silverware.
It is still early days for Amad at Sunderland, and he needs to demonstrate that he can maintain - and improve - his performance levels over the course of a full season before you can make a meaningful judgement.
He has bags of potential, though, so he has a chance.
If you had to sum up his loan spell so far in three words, what would they be?
JH: Exciting, emerging, talent.
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