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?
