Manchester United have offered their commiserations to Amad after his loan spell with Sunderland ended in play-off agony.
The winger, signed from Atalanta for £37.5 million two years ago, has enjoyed an excellent season on Wearside, scooping the club’s Young Player of the Season. His performances also helped the Black Cats to an unlikely top-six berth in their first campaign back in the Championship.
But after playing a starring role in the first leg, he could only watch on as Luton came from behind to book their place in the Wembley final. Goals from Gabriel Osho and Tom Lockyer saw the Hatters win 2-0 on the night, overhauling the Mackems’ 2-1 lead from the first meeting.
Amad scored a stunning equaliser at the Stadium of Light, curling the ball in from 30 yards to show exactly why there is so much excitement back at his parent club. Erik ten Hag is set to take a first-hand glimpse of the 20-year-old in pre-season, before deciding where his future lies for next season.
But for now, it is just a case of putting an arm round the shoulder of the youngster, who was left crest-fallen as his promotion dream fell by the wayside. “Commiserations, Amad,” United’s official Twitter account posted moments after the final whistle. “Our on-loan winger suffered a 3-2 aggregate defeat with Sunderland in the Championship play-offs.”
Amad is now set to return to the fold at his parent club and has even been measured for a suit for next month’s FA Cup final vs Manchester City. The MEN report that Ten Hag wants him to feel involved as quickly as possible, with a trip to Wembley designed to do just that.
The United boss has already confirmed that Amad is firmly in his plans, adding: "We loan such players to let them develop and make progress. To bring them back... that is the aim of a loan.”
There were serious discussions held about bringing Amad back to the club in January, but Ten Hag decided that could halt his progress. That decision paid off with the forward enjoying a memorable second half of the season.
"We consider everything but I have a little bit of reservation about [recalling Amad] because I don’t want to stop the process," Ten Hag said. "He has made really good progress there so I’m happy with that.
"What I saw is that he needs experience in men’s football, senior football. I think there are many aspects of football to get strong physically and mentally, and also skillswise, to improve and develop that so he can have value for us."
Amad has already made it clear that despite a difficult first couple of years at Old Trafford, his desire to breakthrough at his parent club remains intact. “My dream was to play for United. When I signed I was happy. Everyone in my family was happy. I hope maybe next season I get my chance.
“I have a lot of thoughts in my head but my ambition now is to come back to Manchester United and maybe to get my chance.”
As for Luton, a side who were in non-league less than a decade ago, they are now just 90 minutes away from the Premier League. Rob Edwards, sacked by rivals Watford earlier this season, will lead his side out in the play-off final where they will take on the winner of Middlesbrough and Coventry City - with that tie at deadlock after the first leg.
