Manchester United are expected to keep Amad Diallo beyond the end of the January transfer window, rather than have the 21-year-old winger finish the season out on loan.

Amad enjoyed a highly successful loan at Sunderland last season, contributing 16 goals and assists in 37 Championship appearances for the Black Cats. But a pre-season knee injury has limited the Ivory Coast international to just one outing since returning to his parent club.

With fellow winger Facundo Pellistri on course to join Granada on loan, the Manchester Evening News has reported that United staff believe Amad can now play an important role.

It is thought that Pellistri, who made 14 appearances during the first half of the season, ended up staying last summer rather than heading out on loan at that time to serve as cover for Amad.

Following his long-term layoff, Amad made his long-awaited return to action last month off the bench in the Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest. Unfortunately, a bout of illness forced him to miss the FA Cup tie against Wigan Athletic, but Newport County in the next round will offer another opportunity to add to his so far lowly tally of United games.

Having played only a handful of times for Atalanta’s first-team, Amad was signed by United in a deal worth up to £37m in October 2020 – as it happens, on the same day that Pellistri joined from Penarol. But the Ivorian remained in Italy until January 2021, at which point he made an instant impact at Under-23 level and was in the first-team within a matter of weeks.

After only one senior United game in the first half of 2021/22, Amad finished that campaign on loan at Rangers, before moving to Sunderland for 2022/23 and enjoying a breakout season.

Due to being out on loan for 18 months and then sidelined with injury, Amad’s appearance against Forest last month was his first United game in just over two years since 8 December 2021 – a 1-1 Champions League draw against Swiss side Young Boys.