Amad Diallo has given Manchester United an injury boost.
The Ivorian winger for the Red Devils has resumed first-team training at Carrington in an effort to increase his match fitness before making a comeback to action, the team said on Thursday.
With just nine senior United matches to his credit, Diallo has not played a minute this season due to a catastrophic knee injury he sustained in July during United’s preseason friendly victory over Arsenal in the United States.
The 21-year-old, who is highly regarded at Old Trafford and excelled during a season-long loan spell in the Championship last season, where he scored 14 goals in 43 games for Sunderland en route to the play-offs, was disappointed by the setback.
Under Erik ten Hag, the four-cap Ivory Coast international would have hoped to make a big impression at United this season or, at the very least, continue to demonstrate his value with another successful loan move. He joined United from Serie A side Atalanta in a £37 million deal in January 2021 and also spent time out on loan at Rangers.
With his official return to training this week, Diallo is now getting closer to his much anticipated comeback.
As he carefully regains fitness, he is probably going to take some time to return to senior action. It will be intriguing to watch if he is included in the United squad for the second half of the season or if a loan agreement is pursued during the January transfer window.
The large spaces have proven particularly troublesome for the under-pressure Ten Hag during a disappointing season thus far that has seen players such as Marcus Rashford and Antony struggle for consistency, Jadon Sancho removed from the starting lineup, and Alejandro Garnacho mostly unreliable.
No doubt encouraged by fellow young player Kobbie Mainoo’s recent first-team breakthrough after being given a shot in midfield, Diallo will be.
In addition, he might be planning a last-ditch effort to break into the Ivory Coast team for their domestic Africa Cup of Nations competition next month.