"A big player for us": Michael Carrick now praises £37m Man Utd star, could start vs Newcastle

Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick has heaped praise on winger Amad Diallo ahead of the Premier League clash against Newcastle United at St James’ Park tonight.

The Red Devils have been in superb form under Carrick’s tutelage. They have picked up 19 points from seven matches and are third in the league with 51 points, ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference.

United have the opportunity to go six points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool tonight following the Reds’ surprise 2-1 defeat to bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers on the road.

In his pre-match press conference, Carrick was asked about Amad Diallo and whether he has any concerns over the winger, who was recently dropped from the starting line-up.

The 23-year-old has emerged as a key player for the Red Devils over the last two years, but his league form has not been great. The Ivorian has not scored or assisted since mid-December.

Hence, it was justified to replace him with Benjamin Sesko last weekend. Sesko was tasked with leading the line, while Bryan Mbeumo was reinstated on the right side of United’s attack.

Carrick did not necessarily speak on Amad’s exclusion but highlighted that the attacker has been a ‘massive’ and a ‘big player’ for the club, and his attitude has been ‘so positive’.

He said (via Manutd.com): “Amad has been massive for us. Massive for us. So it’s not a major downside that he didn’t start. He’s a big player for us. That’s our approach to it, and the boys have been fantastic.

“I know it’s ended up keeping consistency with the team, but it doesn’t mean we can’t change things around, or mean it’s a big fall-out or someone has had a bad game so they’re out of the team.

“It’s not necessarily that at all. The boys have been really good and the flexibility and rotations means we can change things around that’s great for us.

“He’s another one, Amad, who is such a dream to work with. His attitude is so positive. He wants to learn, he wants to keep pushing.

“So he’s got a lot of attributes, Amad, and the way he came on didn’t surprise me. He’s been so positive all week, so it didn’t surprise me.”

Amad, who arrived in a deal worth £37 million from Atalanta in 2021, will receive a frosty reception on Tyneside tonight, having represented arch-rivals Sunderland on a season-long loan.

It seems unlikely that he will make the starting XI against the Magpies, given the impressive form of Sesko, Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. The trio combined for the winning goal at Everton.

Sesko justified his selection ahead of Amad against Crystal Palace last weekend. The Slovenian scored yet another winning goal for the Red Devils with a fine header from a Bruno Fernandes cross.

Hence, it appears Amad could be restricted to a second-straight substitute appearance, but we won’t be surprised if Carrick makes the decision to start him over Cunha against Eddie Howe’s side.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

Article written by Sri Aswin .