Alex Pritchard gives verdict on Amad Diallo’s recent Sunderland form amid Man United recall question | OneFootball

Sunderland midfielder Alex Pritchard was full of praise for team-mate Amad Diallo and the improvements in his performances in recent weeks.

The Black Cats returned to Championship action on Saturday following the World Cup break with a 3-0 win over Millwall at the Stadium of Light. Diallo opened the scoring from Pritchard’s cross, before Pritchard himself got on the scoresheet five minutes later. Ellis Simms added a third in stoppage time to secure all three points and move Tony Mowbray’s side up to 10th in the table, just one point from the play-offs.

Diallo arrived on Wearside in August on-loan from Manchester United and he had a slow start to life with the club, initially struggling to establish himself in the side with plenty of competition for places from the likes of Pritchard, Patrick Roberts, Jack Clarke, Jewison Bennette and Leon Dajaku.

But in recent weeks the 20-year-old has been in outstanding form and showing some of the potential which has made him such a highly-rated prospect at Old Trafford, with four goals and one assist in his previous six games.

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Diallo had a difficult loan spell in Scotland with Rangers last season, but Pritchard has been impressed with the way he has found his feet at Sunderland and urged him to maintain his current standards.

“Amad has had his own journey. I watch football all the time and you see where he’s been previously,” Pritchard told the Sunderland Echo.

“Coming here I don’t think he had much game time at Rangers and it was one of them he’s come to Sunderland and needs to play games and affect games.

“That’s what he’s doing at the moment so long may that continue.

“The boy is still young and has a big price tag on his head but that’s not his problem, it’s out of his hands.

“He’s a down to earth lad, he obviously works hard and you can see his qualities on the ball during the game. You never know where he could go.”

When asked if Diallo could be recalled by the Red Devils in January, Pritchard conceded it was a possibility but believes remaining at Sunderland is best for his development.

“Quite possibly but for him at the moment he’s at Sunderland,” Pritchard said.

“He’s a Sunderland player, he needs to get his head down, he needs to play football and keep affecting games and they will judge him off that.

“Both teams can benefit from it.”

The verdict

Pritchard’s comments show the support Diallo has in the Sunderland dressing room.

Although a clearly talented player, Diallo is still only 20 and has had a lot of pressure on his young shoulders with a big-money move to a huge club like Manchester United, before being loaned out into the heated atmosphere of the Old Firm with Rangers.

But despite a slow start at Sunderland, it is easy to see why he is beginning to thrive in such a supportive environment.

Playing alongside experience in midfield such as Pritchard and Corry Evans will help his development, while Mowbray is excellent at managing younger players.

Manchester United should resist bringing him back in January as he is unlikely to get into their team and would benefit hugely from a full season of regular football in the Championship, particularly if he continues to build up his confidence and form as he is doing at the moment.

Mowbray will also be hoping he remains at the Stadium of Light for the season as he is becoming a key component of his side as they look to put themselves in play-off contention.