Manchester United winger Amad has been a revelation in recent matches for Ruben Amorim but he will soon be absent
Amad pictured during Manchester United's draw at Tottenham Hotspur
Amad pictured during Manchester United's draw at Tottenham Hotspur
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The nights are becoming longer, the weather cooler and people across the country are starting to look forward to Christmas - unless you are a Manchester United fan of course.
Once Santa is dropping off his presents, United will be without one of their main gifts this season. That is when Amad will be bidding goodbye to the UK as he heads to Africa for AFCON.
His role at right wing-back has been heavily discussed but the consensus is that while improvements need to be made defensively, he more than earns his place thanks to his offensive capabilities. His connection with Bryan Mbeumo, another star set to leave for AFCON this winter, has been a joy to behold and something which United fans will miss from Christmas Eve onwards.
Unlike a lengthy and unexpected injury crisis in the Christmas period, Ruben Amorim at least benefits from the foresight that two of his star players are set to be missing for one of the busiest times of the season. When it comes to Mbeumo, the plan to replace him is obvious.
Mason Mount has done well this season and can easily slip into the No.10 role with little fuss. The conversation around Amad's replacement is trickier though.
On paper, you would think that Diogo Dalot would move onto the right flank allowing Patrick Dorgu to feature on the left. But, Dalot's performances have been poor for the most part this season and he lost his place in the starting XI completely for the Tottenham game.
But against Spurs, Amorim did hint at the alternative solution to using Dalot - Noussair Mazraoui. The Moroccan has had to be patient this season for United.
Noussair Mazraoui embraces Amad after the latter scored for Manchester United
Noussair Mazraoui embraces Amad after the latter scored for Manchester United
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He was used on the right of the back three last season but the Leny Yoro/Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt and Luke Shaw combination seems set. As touched upon, Amad has been the favourite at right wing-back so the former Bayern Munich man has needed to wait for his chance.
That opportunity came in north London and Mazraoui handled it well. He was solid, if unspectacular, and United fans cannot complain with the performance he put in.
Of course, when Amad is not at wing-back, you don't get the same attacking overload on the right flank which works so well normally. But, on the flip side, United are not as shaky defensively there either.
Amad's promotion into the No.10 role has given United fans a hint of the plan Amorim will use whilst the 23-year-old is away with the Ivory Coast. We can expect Matheus Cunha and Mount to feature in the No.10 roles with Mazraoui supporting Mount on his flank.
That will leave Dalot to battle it out with Dorgu for the other wing-back role, a fight which cannot be called at this stage. The Dane got the nod against Spurs but his teammate will be pushing him all the way for a start.
Amorim is right to start introducing Mazraoui into this team now. By Christmas and the New Year, he will be expected to feature in five matches in just two and a half weeks as United's squad is stretched to the maximum.
He simply could not go into that sort of run with extremely limited game time. It would have been a recipe for disaster.
United supporters can therefore expect to see more of Mazraoui between now and the beginning of AFCON as Amorim's plan begins to take further shape.