Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has heaped even more praise on Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo.
Diallo is currently enjoying a great run of form having joined the Black Cats on loan for the 2021/22 season, with three goals and an assist in his last five Championship games.
His latest goal contributions game in Sunderland’s 2-1 win over Birmingham on Friday night where the 20-year-old winger set up Ellis Simms for the opener before scoring a wonderful curling effort.
‘As I’ve been saying, when you’ve got no strikers you have to find a way – who is going to score the goals – and Amad has come to the party,’ Mowbray said after the game.
‘I think there’s an understanding now that this kid has got real talent and deserves to be well-respected within the football team.
‘For me to pick Amad over Patrick Roberts, because I said a few weeks ago that I don’t think there is a better footballer in the league than Patrick Roberts, yet I left him out for Amad tonight because in training he has been unbelievable with the ball, how fast he is, how direct he is.
‘You look at his physical data in every one of the last three or four games and he’s had the highest distance covered, the highest sprint distance, the highest intensity energy runs.
‘He played and scored a wonderful goal, but we see him do it every day.’
Diallo’s efforts have helped lift Sunderland to 12th in the table and just four points off the play-off places.
The Ivory Coast international, who spent last season on loan at Rangers, has played just a handful of times for United since his big money move to Old Trafford in 2020, but his performances will have given hope to fans that he can make an impact when he returns to his parent club.
‘Somebody said he cost £37million from Atalanta when he joined Manchester United, so I find it difficult to think how he is at Sunderland, but probably the pressure of playing in front of a big crowd and he relishes it,’ Mowbray added.
‘He’s an amazing footballer. He can run all day and he has the ball stuck to his foot, he runs past people and he can score goals like that. We’re delighted he’s here with us.’
MORE : Patrick Vieira defends Manchester United star Harry Maguire following England World Cup call-up
MORE : Erik ten Hag eager to offload Harry Maguire and Fred next summer as part of Manchester United rebuild
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
