Amad and four ex-Reds nominated for EFL awards
Manchester United youngster Amad has been shortlisted for the Championship Young Player of the Year award amid his excellent loan season with Sunderland.
Our 20-year-old forward joined the Black Cats last summer and he has made 36 appearances all competitions, scoring 11 goals and registering three assists.
Amad has shown his quality in the North-East and there is still a chance he could help Tony Mowbray’s side to finish in the all-important play-off positions.
Amad’s excellent form this season has been recognised by the Football League after their 2022/23 awards shortlists were officially announced on Tuesday afternoon.
The Ivory Coast international is nominated for the Young Player of the Year award alongside Bristol City’s Alex Scott and Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney.
The winner will be announced during the EFL Awards ceremony on 23 April.
When we caught up with Amad, the prospect spoke positively about returning to United during the summer and developing his game even further.
“Since I’ve been here, I’ve played in all the games and so I have felt I have more confidence,” he told us. “The manager and all the staff are confident in me and I think that this will help me a lot for next year. I hope that next year will be a good season for me.
“So, when a player goes on loan, the first thing is to get lots of playing minutes, and, yes, once you get lots of minutes and start playing lots, you grow straight away.
“Your confidence increases, and I think that, since I have been here, at the beginning I didn’t play much, but then I started playing regularly and, from there, it all started. And, like I said before, I think this loan spell will help me for next season because it has helped me mature, and I have grown lots, on a mental level as well, and feel I have the ability to show this next season.”
Elsewhere in the EFL Awards, former United player, coach and interim manager Michael Carrick is up for the Championship Manager of the Year prize after his transformation of Middlesbrough.
Boro were struggling at the foot of the table when Carras took over in October and they are now fourth, firmly in the mix to win promotion to the Premier League.
Michael is nominated alongside another former United player in Mark Robins, who has worked wonders with his Coventry City side so far this season.
Former Reds coach Kieran McKenna is nominated for the League One Manager of the Year award as his Ipswich Town team continue to fight for promotion.
The Tractor Boys are currently third, two points behind leaders Sheffield Wednesday and crucially have a game in hand.
The League Two Manager of the Year shortlist also features Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens, who is of course a product of the United Academy and remains a friend of the club.