Manchester United star Amad has been pictured working in the gym at the Red Devils’ Carrington training ground as he bids to return before the end of the season. The 22-year-old winger has been out of action since sustaining an ankle injury in February.
The Ivory Coast international proved himself to be a trusted cog in Ruben Amorim’s plans, and remains the club’s second top goalscorer despite his absence. At the time of his injury, Amad was expected to be ruled out for the season, though Amorim has since revealed his hope that the former Sunderland loanee could play a role before 2024/25 is at an end.
“Even Amad, we will see in the end of the last month,” Amorim said last month. “I don’t want to say anything but I have the hope to have Amad before the end of the season.”
The United boss now appears to have seen a promising sign in that prognosis as the club posted an update on X. “A sight that will brighten your Wednesday,” they wrote, alongside multiple pictures of Amad working in the gym.
Amad barely missed a minute under Amorim, and the 40-year-old coach will be pleased if he has another option to utilise before the end of the season. The former midfielder will hope his side can secure progress against Lyon in the Europa League to extend the side’s competitive opportunities and his player’s possibility of contributing.
Amorim also has a more immediate injury boost however, with Kobbie Mainoo in contention to face Lyon on Thursday evening. The talented midfielder has been out for two months after suffering a calf injury in training.
Mainoo was a full participant in the club’s training session at Carrington on Wednesday before flying to France. Amorim has offered a degree of caution despite the positive news however.
“In this moment, we have to be careful with Kobbie,” he said ahead of the game. “He had some games out so we have to be careful with his fitness. We are really pleased with him, but we have to be careful with him.”
“We are really happy to have more options and an option like Kobbie Mainoo, with the quality that he has – he has played as a 6, as an 8 and as a 10 – we are really pleased to have Kobbie Mainoo but we have to be careful, we need Kobbie Mainoo fit and fresh.
“In England, sometimes they play with three defenders also, was more or less the same position. So he can play, we need to help him and find a little bit like Casemiro, [who] is playing better because we understand better the way Casemiro can play.”
Amorim still expects that there is more to come from the 19-year-old. “When I see Kobbie, I see a lot of talent. But in the way I see it, I could be wrong. I see some things that Kobbie has to improve,” he said.
“His pace in the game. He needs to improve in the build-up. Near the box, he has a lot of talent and that is why I think he did a really good game in the Europa League in that position. But I don’t see a full player at the moment; he is 19. If I say I have seen the final player, I don’t think I am helping Kobbie.”
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