Man Utd have another Amad Diallo in development after brilliant display for U23s

Amad Diallo demonstrates skills in training before Man Utd move

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may well have more than just Amad Diallo knocking on his door for first-team football following the Under-23s win Blackburn on Friday night. Solskjaer confirmed when Diallo arrived at the club last month that he was planning to give the 18-year-old minutes with the first team in the second half of the season.

He’s already shown glimpses of his talents at youth level, taking just 13 minutes to score on his debut against Liverpool last week.

And the signing from Atalanta was at it again on Friday night against Blackburn, providing three assists and a goal.

But Diallo wasn’t the only one putting on a show in United colours.

Shola Shoretire bagged a hat-trick but Hannibal Mejbri ran the show from midfield as United came back from 4-2 down to win 6-4.

Mejbri opened the scoring for United to make it 1-1 inside the first half with a sensational solo effort.

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The midfielder also showed that he had an eye for a pass when picking out Diallo with a perfectly weighted ball from deep for United’s second before the break.

Mejbri is highly regarded among United’s academy staff with many tipping him to make the breakthrough into the first-team set up soon.

United snapped up Mejbri at the age of 16 from Monaco for a fee which could potentially rise to £10million.

He was quickly fastracked into the Under-23 set up with Neil Wood keen to give him more of a platform to showcase his abilities.

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There were rumours last summer that Mejbri could have been heading out on loan, but the club were keen to keep him to closely monitor his development.

Impressive performances at youth level have led a number of United supporters to see Mejbri given his opportunity in the first-team set up.

But Wood, speaking last summer, warned against setting high expectations too early on the teenager.

“I think what you need to remember is Hannibal is still a young lad, he is only 17,” Wood said.

“He’s not long been here really, he is probably coming up to almost a first completed season if that.

“I think people get sucked into the price-tag, and again that is not Hannibal’s fault. So I think he is a young player with potential, he is one of the young players we have got with potential, but there is still a lot of development and learning which needs to be put into him.

“We still need to get him to a higher level to get him to even go and train with the first-team, so there is no rush to start pushing him in that first-team environment right now.

“I think the challenge is going to be enough for him at U23s right now and we are going to push him and try to move him up as quick as we can, but at the same time we won’t rush him if he’s not ready to do that.”

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