27 January 2023 , 16:00
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Amad's left foot is sweeter than a dessert trolley – and Sunderland's on-loan winger is sugar-coating the Mackems' revival.
At the Stadium of Light, there is a growing belief that the worst is over and the good times are on the way back. And Amad, the EFL Young Player of the Month, is currently the Black Cats' whiskers.
Saturday's FA Cup fourth round tie at Fulham will give Sunderland fans a chance to daydream about manager Bob Stokoe running across Wembley in his raincoat and trilby to embrace goalkeeper Jim Montgomery, Ian Porterfield's volley and Bobby Kerr lifting the famous old pot 50 years ago.
But in the bigger picture, where the scramble for play-off places in the Championship is as orderly as a pillow fight in the St Trinian's dormitories, Tony Mowbray's side look well-equipped to finish above the dotted line at lights-out.
And for all the talk of sleeping giants awakening up the road where red-and-white cough candy gives way to black-and-white barcodes, Mowbray's fine season on Wearside is being delivered on a budget, not an endless supply of Saudi largesse.
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Amad, 20, has seen youngsters Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri force their way into the first team picture on the wings at parent club Manchester United.
Now Black Cats boss Mowbray is tipping the Ivory Coast forward to make his mark at Old Trafford after Amad's seven goals this season – including one to steal the show in last weekend's Wear-Tees derby with Middlesbrough.
Manchester United winger Amad has been named the EFL Young Player of the Month (SUNDERLAND FC)Signed by United from Atalanta for £19 million plus £18m in add-ons in January 2021, Amad's loan spell at Rangers 12 months ago was a qualified success, and he played in their Scottish FA Cup final triumph against Hearts.
And Sunderland's 40,000-plus crowds are much to the liking of a prospect who believes his talent belongs on the big stage.
Clutching his EFL gong, Amad said: “Winning this award means a lot to me because I always try to give my best on the pitch. This type of recognition gives me great confidence to keep improving, but I also have to thank my team-mates as they help me a lot.
“This loan is what I wanted and I am trying to make the most of my time here. I’m enjoying being part of the club and I enjoy every game.”
Amad has been exceptional at Sunderland (Mark Fletcher/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)The Championship's relentless hamster wheel is no place for players with superiority complexes who drop down from the Premier League with the condescending air of prefects doing a favour for impoverished pupils.
Amad's attitude has been a revelation and he has taken to the physical demands like a duck to orange sauce, saying: “It is a tough league and there are a lot of good teams. It is very physical, but the level is high and each team has players who can make the difference.
“I hope to keep playing well and score more goals to help the team improve so that we can keep moving up the table – I think we are getting better every game and hopefully we can push for the Premier League.
“It’s really nice to play in front of so many supporters every week. I’m sure that experience of playing at the Stadium of Light can help me in my career in the future.”
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Mowbray is convinced he is heading for the top, saying: “Amad’s got the talent to play for Manchester United’s first XI. The ball sticks to his foot, he sees every pass, and his belief and personality are growing.
“He’ll get opportunities, I bet, when he goes back to Old Trafford next summer. From being on the periphery, one of a handful of young signings when I came in, he has almost earned the right to play every minute of every game over the last two months - and that is all down to his talent.
“He is always a threat to the opposition - defenders hang out a leg and he dances past them. He has scored a few goals from outside the box and he links well with the other strikers.
Amad's performances will have been getting attention back at his parent club (Getty Images)“I had a long conversation with the coaches at Manchester United this week, who were asking about Amad. He undoubtedly has the talent to play at the top level.
“With total respect to Sunderland, we are in the Championship, striving to improve - if he plays for Man United, he has to try and win the Champions League, the Premier League, it is a level above.
“But the talent is there. I managed in the Champions League with Celtic and I know he will never fall short on talent because the ball is stuck to his left foot. He will never give it away in tight areas so he can undoubtedly play there.
Amad has already got first team experience at Man Utd“It's a question of whether the personality will mature and grow into believing he can play on that stage. If he can get that and feel comfortable in that environment, then he has the talent to thrive there.
“I can see that belief growing inside him every day - but that is our environment. He expects to play here and understands he is an important player in our team. Five months ago, he was just another young kid presented to the fans, doing 20 minutes here and there.
“Now I would struggle to pick a team without him in it, he is one of the first names on the team sheet. That is how he has grown.”