Amad Diallo scored his first Premier League goal for Manchester United on Wednesday night (Picture: Getty Images)
Erik ten Hag says Amad Diallo has ‘high potential’ after the winger scored his first Premier League goal for Manchester United in Wednesday night’s win over Newcastle.
Diallo scored the Red Devils’ second goal in a 3-2 win over the Magpies on a night which saw young players take the spotlight at Old Trafford as Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund also got on the scoresheet.
The Ivorian winger was making just his eighth Premier League appearance of the season after suffering a serious knee injury last summer, but Ten Hag is delighted to have him available again and expects big things from him in the future.
‘It was a brilliant goal by Amad,’ said the Dutchman. ‘You see how young players are developing, like Amad, and I was really pleased with his performance and it was a great goal. He is very good. He has high potential.
‘He is a symbol for the season as he had a bad injury. He fought himself back and had to wait long for his chance and, against Arsenal, and also against Newcastle, he was very good.’
Diallo has had a frustrating campaign, but was thrilled to finally spark it into life late in the season.
‘Today the team was motivated to play this game and I could see my teammates fighting for everyone. We are happy to win the last game at home,’ he said.
‘It is my first goal in the Premier League for Manchester United, and I hope to score more for Manchester United.
‘In the first half, I tried to do the same and I didn’t score so when I had the second chance I thought “Why not?” I scored and I was happy. It was a good moment.
“I have worked hard for this moment. This season hasn’t been easy for me as I got injured in pre-season. “But scoring this goal in the last home game is a big, big feeling for me.’
Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho will all hope to be regulars next season (Picture: Getty Images)
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has been impressed with Diallo in the few chances he has had in the first team and hopes to see him given more opportunities.
‘He’s done really well at Sunderland [on loan] and I think he’s done well when he’s come into the team,’ Rooney said on Sky Sports.
‘I think for any of them young players now, they have to look at the squad and the future of Manchester United and there’s an opportunity for them there, which maybe they might not have got a few years ago.
‘There’s an opportunity to really stake a claim in the team and a few of them are starting to take that chance.’
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