Amad might be about to show Manchester United just how good he really is

Manchester United supporters might be dreading the prospect of Thursday night European football next season, but tonight they might be able to finally enjoy some.

The brief mention of the Europa League is enough to trigger flashbacks of the penalty shootout defeat to Villarreal in the final last year, a match that typified the unfulfilled potential under former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

After victory against Brighton on Tuesday night, United once again captured the lead in the most underwhelming of top-four races this season, though they could soon lose that advantage if one of the other three chaotic contenders manages to find some sort of form in the weeks ahead.

United fans are in need of a pleasant distraction from current events at their club, and this week the Europa League offers just that as Dortmund face Rangers in the first-leg of their knockout round playoff tie.

There is always a United interest when Dortmund take to the field, given their long-held admiration for star players Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham. The likes of Julian Brandt and Thomas Meunier have also been looked at previously by the club, and defenders Manuel Akanji and Dan-Axel Zagadou are both currently linked with moves as well.

However, the most interesting factor concerns Rangers loanee Amad, a player United committed £37million to purchase when they signed him from Atalanta two years ago.

It's in European football where Amad has made the biggest impact in his fledgling career, featuring four times for United in the Europa League last season, netting his first senior goal with a delightful header against AC Milan at Old Trafford.

Even before that, it was in the UEFA Youth League where he first dazzled English scouts, terrorising