Manchester United are on a better run of form than ever before under Ruben Amorim. They have now gone unbeaten in their last five games, a momentum that they will be looking to keep up ahead of what is set to be another busy festive period.
They will lose some players next month, though, with AFCON set to start just before Christmas. Bryan Mbeumo, who has been one of Amorim’s best players, will be representing Cameroon, and Noussair Mazraoui will be playing for Morocco, who host the competition.
However, perhaps the biggest loss for United will be Ivory Coast international Amad.
Why Amad will be the biggest loss during AFCON
It has not been easy for every member of United’s squad to find a place they fit into Amorim’s infamous 3-4-2-1 system. Yet, for Amad, that has been at right wing-back, a role in which he has gelled nicely.
The former Atalanta academy star has become a pivotal player on that right flank for Amorim. His electric ability going forward has been important, and his hard-working nature defensively is something which seemingly makes him a real favourite of the United manager on the right.
This term, the 23-year-old has made all but three of his ten Premier League appearances at right wing-back. Amad has grabbed two assists and a goal whilst playing that role, with the pick of the bunch surely the pass which set Mbeumo up to give the Red Devils an early lead at Anfield last month.
As to why Amad might be viewed as the biggest loss during AFCON, well, United don’t really have anyone else who can play that role like him.
If you take the Ivorian out of the equation, Diogo Dalot and Mazraoui, both full-backs, are the only viable options. The latter, of course, will be away on international duty himself.
So, Amorim may be forced to turn to the academy to help solve this particular issue.
United’s in-house Amad replacement
The academy has so often been the answer to United’s problems. Think back to Marcus Rashford’s debut for the club, when the then 18-year-old was drafted into the Europa League side at the last minute.
He scored twice on debut, did the same again against Arsenal a few days later, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Well, the person who could step into Amad’s shoes when he is on national team duty is Shea Lacey. The youngster is also a right-winger by trade, a position in which he has shone for their academy this season.
In nine games across all competitions for the Red Devils’ youth sides, Lacey has scored three times and assisted a further two. He averages a goal involvement every 101 minutes, mainly operating as a right-winger.
The Liverpool-born forward has always been a highly-rated player. He has shone for several years in a United shirt, notably “beating Lamine Yamal” to the player of the competition award in a junior tournament, as per GOAL’s Richard Martin.
One reason why the youngster could excel as a right wing-back is his crossing ability. Look at this pass he played for Gabriele Biancheri a few weeks back.
Operating from wide on the right, he’s able to move inside and loft a perfect cross into the path of the Wales youth striker, who scored a lovely goal.
Lacey has impressed against senior sides in the EFL Trophy this term, too. The 18-year-old has put up some impressive numbers, averaging one key pass and completing 1.7 dribbles per 90 minutes.
|
Lacey – EFL Trophy 25/26 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat |
Per 90 mins |
Competition total |
|
Goals and assists |
0.6 |
2 |
|
Key passes |
1 |
3 |
|
Dribbles completed |
1.7 |
5 |
|
Tackles |
2.4 |
7 |
|
Stats from Sofascore |
||
Losing Amad will be a blow to United, especially if this upturn in form continues. However, in Lacey, they might have a ready-made wing-back replacement, who, like Amad, will offer plenty going forward.
It could be seen as a risk to play the teenager in a new role, but if Amorim wants to keep in line with the DNA of the club, it might be something he is willing to do.
