Manchester United's winger and on-loan star Amad Diallo Traore has been defended by Sunderland AFC manager Tony Mowbray after the 20-year-old drew blanks in their last eight games across all competitions.
The 20-year-old former Atlanta teenager went on a goalscoring spree during the holiday period, netting seven times in 13 Championship games, including five goals in seven consecutive games.
The Man United loanee has failed to score in the last six Championship games and two FA Cup matches, registering just one assist since January 22 for the black cats, a contribution he made after coming off the bench in Sunderland's 3-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers.
The Ivorian's barren run has drawn criticism as suggestions have been made for the 20-year-old to be dropped, but Black Cats manager Tony Mowbray has insisted that Amad Diallo is an integral member of the team who does things that normal players don't with the ball.
“I wouldn’t criticize Amad—I struggle to pick a team without him." "He went through a really hot spell where he scored in just about every game for us for a few weeks, but he still contributes massively to our team and the way that we function," Tony Mowbray told the Sunderland Echo.
“He’s a kid who has never played football regularly; he played a handful of games for Atalanta and then went to Manchester United, where he didn’t play much, and then had a loan to Rangers, where he didn’t play regularly."
“He’s come here and it’s the first time, probably ever in his life, where he has played men’s football week in and week out, and it will be very demanding on him."
"It’s nothing surprising that at times he doesn’t quite hit the absolute pinnacle of what he can bring, because it’s been game after game every three days." "I tried to give him a break [at QPR], but it was only an hour—and then he came on and impacted the football match," he explained.
Tony Mowbray further explained how he has instructed his players to make playing together with the Ivorian winger easier on the pitch.
“I’m always telling our players to give him the ball; he doesn’t lose it; he does something that allows him to attack, score, or be creative," Tony Mowbray added.
“I always believe that talent wins football matches." Amad is at Sunderland at this moment, and Patrick [Roberts] is the same; they do things that normal players don’t do. "So I want the team to work the ball into certain areas and give it to the players that can make the difference.”
Amad Diallo joined the championship side on a season long loan stint to gather experience and get more playing time.
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