The £20m star looks like Sunderland’s biggest talent since Amad

Amad Diallo returns to the Stadium of Light on Saturday when Sunderland welcome Manchester United to Wearside in the Premier League.

The Ivorian striker spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan at the club as Tony Mowbray’s side reached the play-offs, losing to Luton Town in the semi-finals.

That season, Amad was Sunderland’s top scorer in all competitions with 14 goals, including one in the play-offs, and provided four assists.

Although the Black Cats did not cross the line to reach the top flight with him in the side, the left-back is still remembered for his excellent performances on loan from Manchester United that season.

Amad received a warm welcome from the home supporters at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, and did little to cheer the Sunderland fans against him throughout the game.

How Amad Diallo performed on his return to Sunderland

The Ivory Coast midfielder started the match on the right wing for the Red Devils and was subbed off in the 75th minute after doing very little to make a difference in his time on the pitch.

Amad found nothing against Reinildo, who was playing well at left back for Regis Le Bris, as he finished the game with poor shots on target and limited opportunities created for his team.

Sunderland fans have watched the 23-year-old star create magical moments regularly at the Stadium of Light over the past few years, but he did not wow the crowd on Saturday.

Amad was reliable enough with the ball for United, completing 90% of his attempted passes, but his performances lacked electricity and he failed to cause problems for Sunderland’s defense before being sent off.

Meanwhile, the current Black Cats star has proven to be the club’s biggest talent since the former Atalanta star returned to Old Trafford nearly three years ago.

Sunderland have found their biggest talent since Amad Diallo

Despite all the talk of Bruno Fernandes, who has 19 assists in the league, breaking the Premier League assist record, it was the Sunderland player who looked the most dominant player on the pitch at the Stadium of Light.

Enzo Le Fee ranked number ten for the Black Cats and produced impressive work for Le Bris, but his teammates failed to make the most of his creative quality.

Sunderland’s £20m attacking midfielder was an old beast in the middle of the park, producing almost four times as much xA as Bruno, and was incredibly unlucky to leave the field without an assist to show for his efforts.

The French magician deserved an assist in the 63rd minute when he plucked the ball out of the sky, turned well and passed perfectly to Brian Brobbey, only for Senne Lammens to make a good save down to his right.

He outplayed Sunderland’s former wing wizard, Amad, and the league’s top creator, Bruno, to show that Sunderland have the most impressive creative talent in the league.

Le Fee, who has scored five goals and provided five assists in all competitions, looks to be the biggest talent in the team since Amad because he has performed amazingly in the Premier League, which is the highest level the team has played in since the Ivory Coast player left.

No player in the Black Cats squad has more xG (4.93), more xA (5.12), or more ‘big chances’ created (ten) than Le Fee in the Premier League this season, showing that he has been Le Fee’s most powerful striker.

The 26-year-old is entering the prime of his career and it’s exciting to think what he can go on to achieve in a Sunderland shirt, as he still has many years to develop.

Le Fee is one of Sunderland’s most exciting and powerful attacking midfielders in the Premier League, which is why it’s hard to argue with him being the biggest talent in the squad as they have Amad.