Rúben Amorim has delivered the latest on Amad’s injury as Manchester United look ahead to their Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao in May.
Manchester United booked their slot in the Europa League semi-final with a stunning 7-6 aggregate win over Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday evening.
With the first leg tied at 2-2, United found themselves two goals up at Old Trafford with 45 minutes left to play, but a capitulation saw the clubs draw once again after 90 minutes, with Lyon grabbing a further two goals with just ten minutes remaining.
Although it looked as if United were down and out, a stunning comeback across just under 10 minutes saw Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, and a towering header from Harry Maguire saw the club book their place in the semi-finals of the competition.
They will now face La Liga side Athletic Bilbao in the next round, with the first leg taking place in Spain and the second leg being played at Old Trafford.
Amorim’s latest on Amad injury
Amid United’s celebrations at Old Trafford on Thursday evening, 22-year-old star winger Amad was among the players. Amad is known to be one of Amorim’s most important players but has missed the last two months due to an ankle injury.
Although he was initially ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, he has returned to individual training ahead of schedule after being spotted undergoing fitness exercises during an open training session on Wednesday morning.
Asked about the player on Wednesday afternoon, Amorim explained that he hopes Amad will be available to return next month.
“Amad is not ready [to return] this month, but we want him before the end of the season,” the 40-year-old head coach explained.
Can Amad play against Bilbao?
In short, although it’s likely too early for the player to return for the first leg, there is definitely a chance that Amad may return by the time Bilbao travel to Old Trafford.
Once it became clear that Amad would be able to return before the end of the campaign, estimates had him set to return in mid-May or toward the end of the competition.
However, with Amorim now confident that United will have Amad back next month, and the player already undergoing fitness rehabilitation, he could return on 7 May, which is the second leg of United’s Europa League semi-final against Bilbao.
Amorim has shown a pattern of letting a player have one week in training before reintroducing them into games via appearances off the bench, with Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, and Mainoo all yet to start following their returns over the last four weeks.
It is possible that Amad could play off the bench against Bilbao, and should United reach the final, he may be fit to start the game on 21 May.
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