Tony Mowbray accepts that Amad is 'pretty unlikely' to return to Sunderland next season - although if the Black Cats can sneak into the Premier League via the play-offs, it could be a different matter. On-loan Manchester United forward Amad has been a revelation in the Championship this season, and his 12 goals not only make him the Black Cats' top scorer but have also helped power the club's bid for a play-off spot.
The 20-year-old is set to return to Old Trafford at the end of the season and has been tipped to become part of Erik ten Hag's first-team squad, but there is also a chance that he could be sent out on loan again to gain top-flight experience either in the Premier League or possibly in another major league such as Italy's Serie A - where he previously played for Atalanta before joining the Red Devils - or Spain's La Liga. It is highly unlikely that the Ivory Coast international will be playing Championship football next term, but if Sunderland can force their way into the play-offs and achieve an against-the-odds promotion, there may be a chance of them hanging onto Amad for another 12 months.
"I don't know Amad well enough to know what drives him," said Mowbray of the youngster. "He loves football, he wants to play, so what do you do if you're at Manchester United?
READ MORE: Sunderland's Birmingham win keeps play-off hopes alive - and Tony Mowbray treading a fine line
"Are you happy just to be a Manchester United player and play six sub appearances and two starts over a 60-game season for them? Or would you want to go and play?
"So are they going to sell him, and if they do they will want to recoup their money which was reportedly €40m or whatever it was? I don't know. I think the reality is that he won't be coming here, unless they think he is going to be one helluva player and he needs another year out playing, and he enjoys it at Sunderland so he can stay there.
"That would be the ideal scenario for us - pretty unlikely, I would suggest, but you never know. If they feel he is someone who could genuinely play in their first team somewhere down the line, they need to keep him on board but I would suggest they will try another level.
"You would think he would go to a Premier League club or maybe back to Italy and play in Serie A, or Spain or wherever it might be. My gut feeling with Amad is that if he doesn't stay at Manchester United, he will go for big money to a top Spanish team, I think.
"But let's hope he is playing for Sunderland next year and banging in the goals. If we did sneak into [the Premier League], there is a much better chance that he could come back.
"He would be playing against Premier League teams every week, he's in an environment here where he is already settled and likes the environment he is in."
Amad scored Sunderland's winning goal as the Black Cats came from behind to beat Birmingham City at the Stadium of Light yesterday. George Hall had put the Blues in front on the half-hour before Trai Hume levelled in first-half injury-time, with Amad scoring 15 minutes from the end - minutes before defender Dennis Cirkin was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Sunderland's win moved them up to ninth place in the table and they are now two points outside the top six with four games remaining. They continue their campaign on Tuesday night when relegation strugglers Huddersfield Town visit Wearside.
READ NEXT:
- Tony Mowbray explains why Dennis Cirkin's upcoming suspension has come at the right time
- Amad's winning Sunderland goal branded 'a touch of class' by Birmingham City boss John Eustace
- Tony Mowbray sets Sunderland last-day target after Birmingham win keeps them in the play-off hunt
- Sunderland player ratings as Amad, Dan Neil, and Anthony Patterson impress in win against Birmingham
- Ten-man Sunderland close to within a point of play-offs after coming from behind against Birmingham
