Would Ten Hag consider recalling Amad?

The Ivorian has made quite the impression since joining the Championship side in the summer, with his recent displays helping the Black Cats occupy a play-off spot at present, in their first campaign back in the second tier.

His maiden strike for the Wearsiders came in a home defeat to Burnley in late October, the first of seven goal contributions in his last 11 appearances for the club. 

With the youngster in fine form, and Ten Hag recently stating his desire for the Reds to add to our forward ranks this month, the boss was asked whether Amad could come back to fill that need.

"We consider everything,” Erik explained to reporters when discussing the prospect of Amad returning to Old Trafford. 

“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.”

The 20-year-old, who completed a move to United from Serie A side Atalanta in January 2021, has made nine senior appearances for the Reds, most notably scoring his first and only competitive Reds goal so far against Milan.

Amad had the opportunity to work with Ten Hag throughout pre-season, finding the net in our final friendly before the start of the 2022/23 campaign against Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford. 

Exactly a month later, he joined Sunderland on loan. In his press conference, Erik explained the thinking behind the move for the youngster.

"Because in that moment, I didn't see him as a starting XI or a player who already had an impact,” Ten Hag told reporters ahead of United's upcoming clash with Bournemouth. 

“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."

In that press conference, the boss was also asked about potential departures in the January window, which opened on the first day of the month.

"I know we have good players and I know a lot of clubs will have an interest in the players who are not so often playing for us, but we need the squad. 

“We need the depth in the squad, and especially I would say in the frontline."