Manchester United winger Amad Diallo has emerged as the club’s “talisman” since the appointment of Ruben Amorim, according to ManchesterWorld reporter Rich Fay.

Speaking on the Fitbaw Talk podcast in the build-up to the Europa League clash against Rangers on Thursday, Fay suggested that the Red Devils have become heavily reliant on the 22-year-old in the final third over the past couple of months:

“The managerial change has just really reinvigorated Amad. It really was a fresh start for him – started off at wingback, really shone brightly there. They scored so early on in Amorim’s first game in charge at Ipswich – that was all created by Amad Diallo and it’s been an upward trajectory from there.”

“He’s advanced from being a wingback now to one of the two advanced midfield players and he has become United’s talisman – new contract, hat-trick against Southampton last week and he really is United’s Player of the Season by a country mile at this moment in time.”

“He is a player that, if he is not making something happen, nobody else is really doing it… He is the Manchester United talisman, He is the one who, if United are to get a positive result on Thursday night, you can almost guarantee that it will be Amad Diallo scoring or assisting to make that happen.”

Amad will be facing one of his former clubs

The Ivorian spent the second half of the 2021/22 season out on loan at Ibrox. It is fair to say that it wasn’t a particularly happy time for the player.

During his six months with Rangers, Amad made 13 appearances in total; only six of which were starts. He did bag a goal on his debut against Ross County but he scored just twice more before his spell in Scotland came to an end.

United will be keen to avoid the playoff round

Head coach Ruben Amorim was never likely to rotate his team too much for the Europa League, considering his side’s poor recent performances in domestic games. However, there is also an extra incentive.

The Red Devils are currently in the top 8 but only just. If they drop down the table over the next couple of games, they will have to play two more playoff games which could make a packed fixture schedule even harder to negotiate.

You can watch the rest of the preview for the Manchester United v Rangers game here