Loan Watch: Amad on target in derby
Amad made another telling contribution for Sunderland this weekend, following his Player of the Month award for December, scoring the Black Cats’ second goal in a 2-0 triumph over local rivals Middlesbrough on Sunday.
The Teessiders, now managed by Manchester United legend Michael Carrick, were hampered by Dael Fry’s dismissal, and Sunderland capitalised, first through Ross Stewart, netting the rebound from the penalty, and then through United loanee Amad.
Patrick Roberts found the Ivorian just inside the box, and he cut inside onto his left foot and fired the ball beyond the helpless Zack Steffen, sealing the three points for the home side.
Following the game, and his subsequent Man-of-the-Match award, Amad spoke to Sky Sports about his recent form.
🗣️ "That should be game, set and match!" ✅
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 22, 2023
Exquisite from Amad Diallo who doubles Sunderland's lead! 👏 pic.twitter.com/EtfEKRTS8T
“Yeah, I missed a chance in the first half, but today was not an easy game,” he said, after an early one-on-one opportunity. “The important thing was the three points.
“[I am enjoying football] a lot. I enjoy every game. Every match is not easy, but we try to win every game.”
Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray was also full of praise for the youngster, as has been the case previously this season, and hopes the winger will be able to challenge for positions in Erik ten Hag’s United side when he returns to the Reds in the summer.
“The test for Amad, of course, is when he goes back next year,” he said. “Can he have a good pre-season? Does he feel like a first-team player at Manchester United? Because that’s the glass ceiling he has the break through really.
“Amad has to try and do that, and he’s not going to fall short on talent. For me, with these young players, it’s all about their personality and whether they feel they can do it and feel they should be on the pitch with Bruno [Fernandes] and all the big players at Manchester United.
🌟Player of the Match @SunderlandAFC Amad Diallo
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) January 22, 2023
93 Touches - his most in a Championship game
73 Successful passes
3 Shots
1 Goal
Scored 7 goals this season - best scoring campaign of his career for the Man Utd loanee pic.twitter.com/pQT5i4dZYD
“I hope [he can break through] because he’s very talented. He’s a lovely kid, he’s very humble and I hope he can produce it at the top level.”
Elsewhere, Hannibal and Alvaro Fernandez’s Birmingham and Preston North End sides came up against one another, with Preston emerging 2-1 victors at St Andrew’s. Hannibal played 62 minutes of the contest, while Fernandez was an unused substitute.
Ethan Laird started Queens Park Rangers’ 1-1 draw with former loan club Swansea City, but had to be withdrawn in the 38th minute due to injury.
🌟 The debutant. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/BIS9BIunsX
— Bolton Wanderers (@OfficialBWFC) January 21, 2023
In League One, Shola Shoretire made his first appearance for Bolton Wanderers following his loan move to the north-west side.
It wasn’t the debut Shola would have wanted, as Bolton fell to a 2-1 defeat away to Derby County. Shoretire was introduced after 63 minutes, with Wanderers already a goal down, but Conor Hourihane doubled the hosts’ lead nine minutes after that. Bolton got a very late goal to halve the deficit, but it was too late to mount a comeback.
Ethan Galbraith and Salford City travel to Colchester this evening (Monday 23 January) looking to further consolidate their position in the League Two play-off spots.
Meanwhile, Dean Henderson is out injured for Nottingham Forest - he would be ineligible for our Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at The City Ground on Wednesday, in any case.