As Amad wobbled in the back of a wheelchair with the help of crutches at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Manchester United fans braced themselves for some bad news.
So did the attacker himself. He later said he “feared for the worst” but was relieved to find that the injury he suffered against Arsenal on the summer’s pre-season tour was “nothing serious”.
His exit from the American Football coliseum was captured by the Manchester Evening News’ chief Manchester United reporter Samuel Luckhurst. The social media clip has more than seven million views, which gives you an insight into Amad’s popularity.
United supporters are not the only ones interested in the Ivorian’s progress. He won many fans during a loan spell at Sunderland last season, where he scored 14 goals in 42 games as the Black Cats reached the Championship play-off semi-finals against the odds.
READ MORE: Amad shares heartwarming three-word injury update
I dare say a few Rangers fans were watching too, wondering why the striker didn’t fare as well in Scotland as he did a few miles south. Amad has been in such good form that Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray pleaded with United not to recall his striker in January amid concerns over United’s attack.
Erik ten Hag says he sees a future at United for Amad. He might need him when he comes back from his knee injury. The 21-year-old had played on the right wing in the friendlies against Leeds and Lyon before his loss, a position that looked increasingly precarious.
Amad posted an update on social media on Thursday with the words ‘step by step’ along with a picture of his recovering knee. The return may not be too far.
But alas, he will not be available to United for many games in the new year. Indeed, United could be left without four players as the delayed Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on January 13.
Andre Onana (Cameroon), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia), Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco) and Amad (Ivory Coast), if selected for their countries, will definitely miss some matches.
Of course, not everyone will make the final, but any player who does will miss four Premier League games – not including potential FA Cup and League Cup ties.
Amad is desperate to play for Cote D’Ivoire as this is a home tournament, one that was moved from last summer to avoid the country’s traditional rainy season. The Premier League will take a mini-break between January 13 and January 30, but the AFCON will last until February 13.
Ten Hag may find his squad depth thinned this season and will cross his fingers to have better injury luck after a busy festive period than he experienced at the start of this season .
Perhaps a quick dip in the winter market is warranted, but it’s too early to do anything but speculate on that. Amad’s potential loss will hurt regardless.
After he was out – as the club said – “the first part of the season”, the Reds could lose him for up to a month in the new year amid limited striker options.
In fact, the tournament will be good for his own development, if he gets the call. Amad has only four caps, and only one in the last two years and he has not been in shape.
When he flew to Sunderland in March, he was called up for his country and was one of the big names left out for June’s clash with Zambia amid reports that head coach Jean-Louis Gasset had opted to give of some key players to rest.
In short, if Amad is fit and gets minutes for United, it is likely that he will be selected for the AFCON and Ten Hag will have to deal with a similar situation in attack that he finds himself in now.
Call it catch twenty two. The main mission for Amad himself from now until then is to push for game time when he returns from injury. United hope he can do that in the knowledge that he could be out for weeks if he succeeds.