1 day Ago By Tom Olver
Amad Diallo has missed Manchester United’s last 21 games through injury (Picture: Getty)Manchester United have received a welcome boost ahead of their Europa League semi-final with Athletic Bilbao, with both Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt pictured back in training.Amad was arguably United’s standout performer in the first half of the season, alongside Bruno Fernandes, but the forward was struck down by a serious ankle injury in February.It means the 22-year-old has missed United’s last 21 matches in all competitions, with his last appearance coming in the side’s FA Cup fourth-round victory over Leicester two-and-a-half months ago.
While there were initially fears Amad would not feature again for the Red Devils this term, the winger has made significant progress with his rehabilitation and appears to be closing in on his first-team return.The Ivory Coast international was spotted back out on the grass in full training at Carrington for the first time this morning, along with De Ligt, who has also been sidelined with an ankle problem.Get personalised updates on Manchester United every dayWake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. De Ligt rolled his ankle during United’s 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest at the start of the month and has been absent for the side’s last six games as a consequence.It remains to be seen if Ruben Amorim will be prepared to throw the duo straight in for the first leg of United’s semi-final with Athletic on Thursday night.
Amad was put through his paces at Carrington today (Picture: Sky Sports)De Ligt was also pictured in training after missing six games with an ankle issue (Picture: Sky Sports)The United head coach is likely to provide an update on both Amad and De Ligt when he faces the media for his pre-match press conference later today.The Old Trafford giants are unable to call on long-term absentees Lisandro Martinez, Joshua Zirkzee and Diogo Dalot for the trip to Spain, with all three players unlikely to feature again this season.Ayden Heaven, Tobias Collyer and Altay Bayindir have also been nursing injuries and face lengthy spells on the sidelines.
The Red Devils face Athletic in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday (Picture: Getty)Amad has racked up six goals and six assists in 22 league games and Fernandes is the only United player to better those numbers in the English top flight this season.In January, Amad put pen to paper on a contract extension at the Theatre of Dreams, tying him to the club until 2030.‘I am really proud to have signed this new contract,’ Amad told United’s official website at the time.
‘I have had some incredible moments with this club already but there is so much more to come. ‘I have huge ambitions in the game and I want to achieve history at Manchester United.‘I have learnt so much since arriving here four years ago; I am very grateful to the coaches and staff who have helped me to develop, and to the fans for driving me forward every day.
’Amad added: ‘It has been a difficult season for everyone, but I fully believe that we are on the right path and the future is going to be really special. ‘I am ready to give everything to help the team and make our supporters proud again.’For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram..
