Amad wins Man of the Match

There’s no prizes for guessing the recipient of the Man of the Match award following our come-from-behind win against Southampton – given the incredible late show by Amad.

After we huffed and puffed for much of the second half in search of an equaliser – having trailed from a Manuel Ugarte own goal in the first half – we required the goalscoring intervention of our no.16, who exploded after the 82nd minute.

Reinstated to the side at wing-back, Amad equalised eight minutes from time when he reacted quickly to having a shot blocked in the opposition penalty area, benefiting from a rebound before slotting a cool finish beyond Aaron Ramsdale inside the near post.

His second strike, arguably the pick of the bunch, was a sensational volley beyond Ramsdale, after he’d latched on to an exquisite return ball over the top from substitute Christian Eriksen.

The third, deep into stoppage-time, was a reward for the attacker’s relentless pressing as he pounced on a loose touch from Taylor Harwood-Bellis deep in his own penalty area to finish into an empty net, ensuring he claimed the match ball.

The Ivorian was also recognised by TNT Sports, unsurprisingly being selected by the UK broadcaster as their winner, too.

Speaking to the broadcaster on the pitch at full-time, Amad said: “We have quality players in this team. We need sometimes to be more hungry in the final third and today we show again we were the best team on the pitch. I’m so happy today because this team deserve it.

“I’m ready to play every position, I’m ready to play at wing back, number ten – wherever the manager likes to put me. I’m ready to fight for this club so it never matters where I play.

“I’m so happy to play where the manager wanted me to play. So I’m so happy to score a hat-trick and the most important thing is the win for the club.”

The triple goalscorer was the overwhelming winner in our post-match poll, winning the vote of 94 per cent of fans making their selection in the United App.

Long before his goalscoring heroics began, Amad had been lively down the right flank, getting fans up on their seats as our search for an equaliser intensified as the catalyst for so much of our attacking play in the second half.

In netting three goals, at 22 years and 189 days, Amad becomes the second youngest Red to register a hat-trick for United in the Premier League. He trails only Wayne Rooney, who hit three in a top-flight game against Bolton aged 21 years and four days.

Congratulations to Amad on another set of Man of the Match awards – and, of course, for winning the match ball!

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