Manchester United are closely monitoring Amad Diallo's loan spell at Sunderland, with the Premier League club confident the youngster's time at the Stadium of Light can help develop the young forward into a first team player at Old Trafford.

Amad's season-long loan at Sunderland was seen as a crucial year in the progression of the highly-rated 20-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Rangers.

United have the option to recall Amad in January but as things stand the youngster's loan on Wearside is playing out exactly as the Premier League club would have hoped, with the forward playing regularly and showing signs of real form.

Amad has started Sunderland's last five games, scoring three goals. In Sunderland's last outing before the World Cup stoppage, Amad scored one goal and created the other in the 2-1 win at Birmingham City.

United are watching closely, with hopes that Amad can return to Old Trafford in the summer and be part of the first team squad next term.

Boss Tony Mowbray is delighted at Amad's contribution on Wearside.

Before the break, he said:“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.

“I think there’s an understanding now that this kid has got real talent and deserves to be well-respected within the football team."

Amad will be looking to carry his form into the second half of the Championship season, with Sunderland resuming action at home to Millwall this weekend.

The Black Cats will be without defender Bailey Wright, who helped Australia make history and reach the last 16 of the World Cup on Wednesday.

Wright replaced Middlesbrough's Riley McGree in the second half as the Socceroos saw out the 1-0 win over Denmark that was enough to see them into the second round.

Delighted boss Graham Arnold said: “I’m so proud of the effort by the boys. There was a short turnaround but their effort was incredible.

“A lot of belief and hard work. These boys come in with a great mindset. We’ve been working on this for the last four to four and a half years — about the belief, the energy and the focus. I could see in their eyes, they were ready."

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