Ruud: Amad is a great example

Ruud van Nistelrooy says Amad’s attitude in training has been exemplary, as the focus was sharply on the Ivory Coast international following his two goals in Manchester United’s win over PAOK.

The winger’s efforts earned a 2-0 triumph in the Europa League, our first victory in the competition this term, and was just reward for a positive individual performance from the outset.

In a first start since early October, Amad took his chance to impress with both hands and it is only hoped that an injury which forced him off the field will not rule him out of contention for Sunday’s return to Premier League action, against Leicester City, in our final fixture before the international break.

Amad converted a Bruno Fernandes cross with a looping header, five minutes after the interval, before a stunning second was all his own work. Robbing Baba Rahman of possession, he kept his feet when clearly fouled by the PAOK defender and curled a beauty into the far corner of the net.

Ruud: Why we improved after half-time Video

Ruud: Why we improved after half-time

Interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy explains what his team did better in the second half against PAOK…

“He made a difference for us today because of his goals,” van Nistelrooy told TNT Sports. “But he was very sharp. I think, in the first half, he was one of the few who was at his level. Well done to him, good game.

“His first goal was a good goal and a good Bruno assist. We like when we were in those spaces, where Bruno was to put the ball in between the keeper and the backline – you can see the three players in the movement, it’s something we’ve worked on a lot since the beginning of the season.

“They are always dangerous areas to cross from and we needed this. Amad made his own goal [for the second goal], Christian [Eriksen] tried to cross it and then he came inside on his left and getting it in the far post was excellent. He won his own duel and took the shot for the goal – a good goal. He has been incredible actually in training, he was never affected by not playing. He always trains well and is asking me to do more. That’s an example.”

The only negative for the Man of the Match on the night was that he was substituted after receiving treatment. He actually took a knock very early in proceedings and, hopefully, the problem is not sufficient to keep him out at the weekend.

“He’s being checked now,” explained Ruud. “I hope it’s not a big injury, of course, because he did very well. Of course, he had to come off but we have to wait and see what the injury is.

“Of course, I hope that he will be available for Sunday but we have to wait and see.”

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