Loan Watch: Amad's best display so far

Monday 17 October 2022 08:59

Across the weekend, eight Manchester loanees were in action, experiencing mixed success for their clubs.

Following a sparkling second-half performance in Sunderland’s 2-1 Championship win over Wigan Athletic, Amad was singled out for praise by Black Cats manager Tony Mowbray.

The Ivory Coast international was introduced at the break with the hosts trailing 1-0, courtesy of a Charlie Wyke goal on the stroke of half time, and instantly made an impact.

Just nine minutes into the second period, Elliot Embleton drew Sunderland level, before defender Dennis Cirkin completed the comeback with just under 20 minutes to play.

Following the vital win for his side, Mowbray heaped praise on Amad, stating: “I think that’s the best we’ve seen of him.

“Listen, he’s got flashes, he’s a wonderful, wonderful footballer. On the training ground, he’s so sharp, quick and clever with the ball – he just has to add the end product, for me.

“Every day I’m in his ear, so he knows, but the work ethic was good today, and the physicality he brought to the job was good and I was pleased for him."

Amad wasn’t the only United loanee to taste victory the weekend, as Hannibal played 86 minutes of Birmingham City’s 2-0 away win at Hull City on Sunday.

Troy Deeney scored a penalty and missed another, while Juninho Bacuna also got on the scoresheet to seal the win for the Midlanders, with our Tunisia international often in the thick of things and earning the Man-of-the-Match award from Blues supporters.

Alex Telles was also on the right end of his result on Saturday, featuring for 67 minutes of Sevilla’s 1-0 victory away to Mallorca.

Elsewhere in Europe, Matej Kovar played the full 90 minutes as Sparta Prague overcame Pardubice 5-2 at home, lifting his side to third place in the Czech top flight, six points off the top.

Eric Bailly started Marseille’s 1-0 loss away to Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday too, with Neymar scoring what proved to be the deciding goal in the first-half, before the Brazilian was cynically hacked down by Samuel Gigot in the second period – an offence that earned the Marseille defender a red card.

Further matches featuring our loanees were played over the weekend, with Dean Henderson falling to a 1-0 away defeat at Wolves, as Ruben Neves’s second-half penalty proved to be the difference between the two sides, due to Brennan Johnson missing from the spot for the visitors, as Jose Sa saved his attempt.

Both Alvaro Fernandez and Ethan Galbraith suffered losses with Preston North End and Salford City, respectively.

Fernandez played the full 90 minutes of Preston’s 2-0 home defeat by Stoke, while Galbraith’s Salford were narrowly beaten at home by fellow League Two top-six hopefuls Bradford City.

Ethan Laird missed QPR's 3-1 defeat to Luton Town due to a hamstring problem, while Will Fish was an unused substitute in Hibernian's 6-1 loss at Celtic, and Charlie Wellens did not get on in Oldham Athletic's 1-1 FA Cup draw with Chester.

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