Erik ten Hag’s reply when asked if he’s considered recalling Amad Diallo from loan

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Amad Diallo won’t return to Old Trafford in January as he doesn’t want to thwart his progress at Sunderland.

Ten Hag let Diallo join Sunderland in a season-long loan deal over the summer in a bid to get more first team experience and the Ivorian has been superb for the Championship side.

The 20-year-old has scored six goals and provided one assist in 19 appearances for the Black Cats so far and has impressed loads of Manchester United fans with his performances.

Erik ten Hag has decided not to recall him from his loan stay at Sunderland because he wants the former Atalanta forward to build on his physicality and quality so he would be ready for a first team place at Manchester United.

“We consider everything,” Ten Hag said when asked if he has considered recalling the forward from his loan move. “As long as it’s strengthening the squad. But at the same time, I have a little bit of a reservation for that because I don’t want to stop the process.

“When we decide [for him] to come back, he has to be a player who can be starting XI, compete for starting XI [at a] minimum, for a lot of games to come in and have an impact.

“In that moment [pre-season], I didn’t see him as a starting XI or a player who already had an impact. But I see and I value his potential and his capabilities.

“I saw [in pre-season] that he needs experience in men’s football, senior football. I think in many aspects of football, to get stronger physically, mentally, also skills-wise to improve that, to develop that, so that he can have value for us.”