I witnessed first-hand how Man Utd lost Amad to injury – the blame lies with one person | Football | Sport

Amad has represented the brightest ray of sunshine creeping through the dark cloud that has loomed over another diabolical Manchester United season so far.

Yet, from where this Stretford End tenant perches over the Old Trafford pitch every home game, it has grown increasingly apparent an injury was on its way.

To this extent? Unfathomable. Amad is reportedly set to miss the rest of the season after suffering ankle ligament damage in training this week.

It’s a nightmare situation that is bound to make an already strenuous task of finding enjoyment in the football on display in M16 even more of a challenge.

Alas, this is post-Sir Alex Ferguson Manchester United. This familiar feeling matches that of Jon Snow’s fate in the Game of Thrones season five finale.

If you don’t know, get to know, but in short, it’s pain after pain after pain and then some more pain followed by further pain.

When will it end? It’s impossible to predict. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is working hard to pick up the pieces of the Glazer family’s reckless regime.

But the current fan sentiment towards the Ineos kingpin’s relentless streak of unpopular decisions highlights how much more he has to do to turn the tides.

Let’s focus on the now. That’s what Ruben Amorim continues to stress when the media get their opportunity to grill the under-pressure United boss.

Supporters wouldn’t be blamed for fearing what’s to come in the next few months more than the worrying direction in which the club is going, though.

United have been toothless enough in the final third this season. Only Everton, Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton’s tallies are more tragic than the Red Devils’ 28 goals in 24 Premier League games.

Given how often he has dragged his team out of the mud, it will likely come as no surprise to learn that Amad has contributed to 43 per cent of those goals.

Perhaps there is no one to blame. It may be yet another freak training ground injury and not at all related to United’s flawed medical department that Ineos are working to overhaul.

However, this writer can’t help but point the finger at the individual who has used Amad for entire games in 11 of his 13 since becoming head coach. That is, of course, Amorim.

He didn’t exactly inherit a title-winning team in the ilk of the one he assembled over four years at Sporting.

In fact, it’s pound-for-pound the worst United side in history by some distance. Nor has Amorim been blessed with an attractive set of options.

The Portuguese tactician was also within his rights to shut Marcus Rashford out if he wasn’t getting a tune out of the wantaway hometown hero.

But Amad was often used when Alejandro Garnacho, Christian Eriksen, Joshua Zirkzee or Rasmus Hojlund could’ve featured instead.

No goal involvements in his last six games only tell part of the story. From the stands, Amad’s explosive bursts to beat his man and get bums off seats have appeared gradually short of dynamite sticks.

It’s admittedly very easy to take such a stance in hindsight. And this voice, in its goal starvation, was likely among those calling for the talented Ivorian to continue doing his thing.

That said, Amorim will likely feel the full effect of Amad’s imminent absence. Among many lessons he’s actively learning in the toughest job in world football, this will serve as one in rotation.

Regardless, it’s impossible not to sympathise with Amorim, whose desire to remain in Lisbon until the summer is becoming more understandable by the week.