Internal scans reveal the Ivorian winger faces a lengthy layoff after a training ground setback, leaving Michael Carrick scrambling for attacking solutions following a dismal opening day defeat.
Manchester United’s Premier League campaign got off to a disastrous start on Saturday afternoon following a 2-0 defeat against Hull City away from home.
A poor performance from Michael Carrick’s side saw them concede two sloppy goals, while United’s attacking line lacked the creativity needed to get back into the game.
To add to United’s woes, Amad did not travel for the fixture despite starting a number of United’s pre-season matches. His absence saw Bryan Mbeumo operate on the right wing, while Matheus Cunha started up front, a combination that has not been worked on extensively under Carrick.
While Carrick was quick to play down the severity of Amad’s injury, Roundtable understands that the issue could be more serious than initially thought.
Sources: Amad could be out for six weeks
Roundtable understands that initial scans on Amad’s injury suggest he could be sidelined for up to six weeks after picking up the injury in training.
United are still waiting for further medical results before they have a complete picture of the extent of the injury. However, the early signs are not positive, with the initial scans indicating that the Ivorian international could be out for longer than first expected.
Amad enjoyed a positive pre-season with United, showing glimpses of the form he displayed at the beginning of last season before Rúben Amorim was appointed.
The potential injury would come as a major blow to Carrick, considering Amad was an important part of the team during United’s successful pre-season campaign.
United can survive without Amad
Fortunately for Carrick, unlike in recent years, United have plenty of depth in their attacking options.
Benjamin Šeško returned to action for the first time since United defeated Liverpool 3-2 last season and looked bright up front against Hull despite failing to find the back of the net.
The addition of Marcus Rashford to United’s squad also provides another boost, with the forward coming on in the second half against Hull and performing well.
It remains to be seen who Carrick will choose to start when United welcome Ipswich Town to Old Trafford next Sunday, but while Amad’s absence would undoubtedly be a blow, United have enough attacking options to cover for him, whether he is unavailable to start or make the bench.
