What Manchester United coaches have been saying about Amad Diallo ahead of debut

Man Utd: Diallo posts Atalanta tribute after sealing move

Manchester United coach Neil Wood has been given glowing reports of Amad Diallo behind the scenes. The 18-year-old is poised to make his debut for the Red Devils in their Premier League 2 math with Liverpool on Saturday. They signed him from Atalanta earlier in the January transfer window, paying £37million to bring him to Old Trafford.

Speaking on Friday, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed Diallo’s debut by saying: “Yes, Amad will play in the game against Liverpool in the Under-23s.

“He’s been training really well and settling in.

“He’s ready to get some game-time and match exposure.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him. [Liverpool?] There you go. Welcome to English football!”

And, now, United coach Wood has explained he’s been given glowing reports on Diallo from his counter-parts in the first-team setup.

“I haven’t seen too much of him because he’s in the first-team bubble,” Wood told MUTV.

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“He’s training with them but I’ve spoken to the coaches and they said he’s doing well.

“It’s good for him to get some game-time, get some minutes on the pitch and get some match practice in.”

Wood also admitted he was excited to see Diallo play, and Liverpool will represent a good first challenge for the teenager to be involved in.

He added: “I’m looking forward to seeing him play as well, just as much as every other United fan is as well.

“I wouldn’t say it was an easy game to come into, our local rivals, so, yes, it’s going to be challenging for him [against Liverpool].”

Solskjaer recently expressed a belief that Diallo’s best position is on the right wing, meaning he’ll provide competition for the likes of Mason Greenwood, Daniel James and Marcus Rashford.

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“That’s his preferred position,” said the 47-year-old.

“He is good at finding space, he can go inside and outside and he will get the time to prove that he is the one.

“Along the way we have got Mason [Greenwood], Marcus [Rashford], Daniel [James], Juan [Mata] and Paul [Pogba] has played there, so we have options but I think when you look at the squad and you look at Amad and you think, yeah, that’s probably where we will work to fit you in.”

Solskjaer has also previously hinted a Diallo debut for the first team isn’t too far away, saying: “It might be quicker than that [two or three months].

“I can’t see it being too long until he’s in the squad.

“He’s definitely settled down well. The players have taken to him, he’s a good character, polite, smiley boy who works really hard.

“He’s doing his sessions and getting used to us.

“There’s always a period of adjustment needed but he’s settling in well.

“He can handle the ball, he’s enjoyed training and he makes a difference in training, which is quite remarkable at his age.”

Meanwhile, Wood also confirmed he expected star player Anthony Elanga to miss the next few games after he suffered a collarbone injury in the recent defeat against Leicester.

He said: “It was a shame as I think it was a heavy tackle on Anthony and, up until that point, he was playing really well.

“I said to him at half-time it looked like he was playing professionally, moving the ball quick, playing inside, linking up and running in behind.

“He was looking a big threat for us and on top of his game but it was disappointing for him. He’s got an upper-body injury and is going to miss the next few games.

“Obviously, he’s disappointed as he felt in a good place and wanted to come back after the Christmas break and hit the ground running but, unfortunately, it’s stopped him in his tracks a little bit.

“He’ll be back. He’ll do the rehabilitation right and be back before we know it.”

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