It has been a really poor season for Manchester United, who are battling to get a top-half finish this season.
However, things were not made easier with the news a couple of weeks ago that Amad is out injured. The Ivorian attacker has been sensational under Ruben Amorim – contributing with nine goals and seven assists – but will miss the remainder of the season.
It’s safe to say that the 22-year-old has had a real impact on the Red Devils this season and will be a big miss.
With Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount also out with injury, it leaves Amorim thin on the ground in terms of options in that number 10 role.
Man United's current attacking midfield options
Amorim has four realistic options to play as a number 10. One of those is Bruno Fernandes. United’s captain has been playing deeper at times under Amorim, but his goal threat is obvious. He has ten goals and 12 assists this term.
The United boss has also tended to start Joshua Zirkzee behind the striker in recent weeks. His excellent ability to link play up and find runners beyond him, plus the physical presence he offers, means he could work well as an attacking midfielder in the dual 10 system Amorim employs. He has already shown great signs when playing there in recent weeks.
Alejandro Garnacho offers something unique at attacking midfield. He is unlike any other United player, someone who will relentlessly dribble at the opposition defence and try and take them on one-vs-one. The youngster has 14 goal involvements this season but has been in a drought.
Christian Eriksen is the fourth realistic option Amorim has to play in the role. Now into the final few months of his deal at United, the Denmark international has not featured much this season but possesses the timeless ability to unlock a defence with one pass.
However, amid this injury crisis, perhaps Amorim wishes United still had a former academy graduate on the books who has impressed after leaving the club.
Former Man United academy graduate would now be perfect
In the last few seasons, so many academy graduates have departed Old Trafford permanently. That includes established first-team players like Scott McTominay, who moved to Napoli, and less experienced yet high-potential players like Teden Mengi, who is now at Luton Town.
Another recent academy departure was attacking midfielder Andreas Pereira. The Brazilian, who went on several loan spells during his time at Old Trafford, made 75 appearances for the club, scoring and assisting nine times.
In 2022, he made the move to West Londoners Fulham for a fee in the region of £10m. Since joining the Cottagers, Pereira has thrived. In 108 games for the club, he has scored on ten occasions and grabbed 19 assists. His valuation of as much as £17.5m by Football Transfers shows just how much he has improved.
In his first two Premier League campaigns at the club, he managed to hit ten goal involvements. He also managed to get on the scoresheet in a 2-2 draw at Anfield against Liverpool this term, which surely brought a smile to the faces of United fans.
Pereira’s performances have been impressive over the past few seasons so much so that you can now draw a statistical comparison with Martin Odegaard and remarkably Phil Foden who are adjudged to be similar players via FBref.
The Arsenal captain, who is valued as highly as £90m by Transfermarkt, has three goals and six assists for the Gunners this season.
The statistical evidence suggests that both midfielders have been creatively excellent players over the season. On average, Pereira plays 2.67 key passes per game, compared to 2.33 for Odegaard. The Fulham star also averages 5.27 shot-creating actions per game, with the Arsenal skipper slightly less at 4.68 per game.
Key passes
2.67
2.33
Goals and assists
0.27
0.31
Shot-creating actions
5.27
4.68
Tackles and interceptions
1.37
1.1
Ball recoveries
4.66
3.62
Perhaps Amorim wishes he had the former United star to call upon this season. As Statman Dave said, he is an “underrated playmaker”, and could have made a real difference for the Red Devils this season.
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