WHEN Amad Diallo joined Sunderland from Manchester United on loan last summer, he had two ambitions - to score 10 goals this season and help the Black Cats win promotion.

He's one goal away from ticking one of those boxes and hasn't given up on the other, despite Tony Mowbray's side slipping to seven points shy of the play-off places.

Regardless of how the season ends on Wearside, though, Amad has thoroughly enjoyed his time with the Championship club. After last season's loan spell at Rangers didn't go to plan, this term was crucial for the talented 20-year-old, who couldn't afford to waste a full campaign.

And it's worked out extremely well, for Amad and for Sunderland. The youngster has made 20 starts, featured in 29 games in total and has been one of the brightest attacking stars in the Championship.

He's enjoyed playing in a forward-thinking team and linking up with one teammate in particular.

"We have many players who are good in the team. When I play with Patrick Roberts, I have much good feeling with him on the pitch," said Amad.

"The fans are very good. They support us every game, when you play at home and away, and they give you confidence and energy. This is important for us.

"The club has a big history. It was in the Premier League before and I hope it goes to the Premier League next season. The staff, the club, the players all have a lot of confidence in me and I do my best on the pitch to repay the confidence from the club.

"My objective here at the start of the season was to score 10 goals. Now I want to score more goals. But I have another objective which is to take this team into the Premier League because I know it will be difficult, but I always tell myself nothing is impossible.”

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Whether or not Amad is ready to force his way into Manchester United first team next term is not clear, but he'll return to his parent a club a more "mature" player after his time at the Stadium of Light.

"Since I’ve been here, I’ve played in all the games and so I have felt I have more confidence," the forward told MUTV.

"I hope that next year will be a good season for me. When a player goes on loan, the first thing is to get lots of playing minutes, and, yes, once you get lots of minutes and start playing lots, you grow straight away. Your confidence increases, and I think that, since I have been here, at the beginning I didn’t play much, but then I started playing regularly and, from there, it all started.

"We’ve faced many teams in the Championship that had very physical players but I think the game doesn’t always depend on the physicality because I think, if you have the technical ability and if you have the ability to play fast, your physicality is less important.

"But yes, like I said before, it is important to have muscles to play against defenders. However, if you are intelligent players that can make the difference, then it’s needed less.

"Like I said before, I think this loan spell will help me for next season because it has helped me mature, and I have grown lots, on a mental level as well, and feel I have the ability to show this next season."