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Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has a decision to make over Amad ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium
Isaac is a senior NCTJ-trained journalist with an MA in News Journalism. He has experience of working for national and regional news organisations including the Express, the Mirror and the Manchester Evening News. He currently covers sport across all national and regional sites at Reach PLC.
Manchester United head into Sunday's derby against Manchester City with much to lose but also the chance to truly kickstart their season.
Many at Old Trafford will have hoped that the Reds' much-needed 3-2 win over Burnley before the international break would quieten at least some of the noise surrounding United. To some extent, it did, with Ruben Amorim's side deserved winners overall, even if they needed a stoppage-time penalty from Bruno Fernandes to earn all three points.
Yet no one can be convinced by the chaotic nature of another 90 minutes at Old Trafford - particularly with it coming against a team who are favourites to be relegated. A more impressive statement can be made on Sunday afternoon at Pep Guardiola's faltering team.
While City have lost two of their opening three fixtures and are, much to the amazement of some, below crisis-hit United in the table - they still hold an aura from their recent dominance under Guardiola. Beating them still means a great deal - especially for United.
The Reds enjoyed arguably their greatest day under Amorim when Amad played a key role in United's 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium last season. But United's head coach now faces a conundrum with that very player who secured an improbable victory in the dying moments of that fixture in December 2024.
Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha's arrivals have seen Amad pushed out to wing-back instead of the more effective No.10 position, which saw him light up last season's match.
It could perhaps point to United's flawed summer business. As good as Mbeumo and Cunha are - did they really need to sign two new No.10's when they already had Amad, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount to play in that position?
The funds used could surely have been used toward a new central midfielder. It's a decision which has impacted Amad's role under Amorim and may perhaps influence Sunday's result and indeed United's season as a whole.
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