Amad only seems to have one option at Manchester United

If there was one silver lining for Manchester United fans to take from the weekend, it was the recent return of their golden boy.

Not many of those in attendance at the City Ground would have been present the last time Amad had taken to the pitch after he suffered a serious knee injury against Arsenal in pre-season. It had been a long journey to get back to sharpness and Erik ten Hag has been careful not to throw him back into action any earlier than required.

Amad watched from the director's box as United came from behind to defeat Aston Villa on Boxing Day, but by the weekend he was needed as Rasmus Hojlund's illness left the Reds light of attackers on the bench. The Ivorian's return comes at a curious time, though. He has long been tipped as the alternative to Antony on the right wing and until as recently as a week ago that was still the case.

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Even after such a lengthy layoff he seemed to be the obvious second choice in his preferred role but has dropped down to third after Alejandro Garnacho's impressive outing against Aston Villa. Ten Hag name-checked Amad after the defeat to Forest and insisted he was pleased with his performance, yet when the team is fully fit it will be hard to see where he fits in.

"In the second half, they [the attackers] were in the match," Ten Hag told MUTV at full-time. "I thought Amad Diallo came in really good; Alejandro Garnacho played a very good game."

Garnacho tops the pecking order on the right and while many supporters would love to see Amad given the chance, it is hard to see him oust Antony, who is Ten Hag's most expensive signing. There is fresh scrutiny