Journalist Josh Bunting has expressed his excitement over Sunderland youngster Amad Diallo after he impressed in a recent friendly.
With the World Cup currently taking place, most football fans are keeping their eyes focused on events in Qatar. However, those who follow the Black Cats will be keeping track of their players in Dubai too.
Indeed, Sunderland have travelled to that part of the globe for warm-weather training camp to keep fit during the break and recently took on Al-Shabab in a friendly match.
The game ended 1-0 to the Championship club with Diallo scoring the only goal and it seems as though the man on loan from Manchester United really caught the eye.
Indeed, Bunting took to Twitter to praise the attacker, saying: “Diallo the confidence in the game, just watching a few highlights.
“Unbelievable bursting past people like they aren’t even there, the weight on his passes. That’s a player that is enjoying himself and his football, he is a massive talent and just so exciting to watch.”
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It seems as though Bunting wasn’t the only one to note just how impressive Diallo was on the day. Phil Smith of the Sunderland Echo wrote that the forward was ‘influential’ and praised him for ‘audaciously chipping’ the opposition goalkeeper.
Still only 20 years of age, the loanee evidently has plenty of potential and has really started to show that at his current club of late. Before the break, the Ivorian scored three goals and provided one assist in his last five Championship games.
If he can continue this form, Sunderland may well be hoping to keep Diallo for the long term but as he has only joined for the season, it remains unclear as to whether or not United would allow a sale in the summer.
For now, though, supporters can certainly enjoy the player as he starts to build real momentum.