Sunderland AFC supporters will not be surprised with Amad Diallo, Man Utd exploits | OneFootball

Sunderland supporters will not be surprised by Amad Diallo's Manchester United form

Sunderland sit top of the Championship table heading into November's international break, ahead of second place Sheffield United on goal difference, courtesy of the Blades' two-point deduction.

Despite enduring three consecutive draws with Queens Park Rangers, Preston North End and Coventry City, the Black Cats are at the summit of the second tier after 15 games played, and have not lost since September.

A feeling is growing in the north east that this could be the season when the Black Cats finally make their Premier League return, after being relegated from the top-flight in 2017.

Since their relegation from the Premier League, the Stadium of Light side have even endured four seasons in League One, while the last time they were in serious contention for a top-flight spot came two campaigns ago.

In fact, the Black Cats landed a Championship play-off place at the end of the 2022/23 season, but lost out in the semi-finals to eventual promotion winners Luton Town.

That overall successful term was largely thanks to the exploits of Amad Diallo, then on loan from Manchester United, who scored 14 goals and produced three assists in the second tier for the Wearsiders.

Sunderland fans will not be surprised by Amad Diallo's Man United form

Following his impressive displays in the Championship, the Black Cats would have loved to see their club seek another loan deal for Diallo ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

However, it was not to be, and the forward would remain at Old Trafford, while Black Cats supporters may have expected him to thrive upon his return to the Premier League.

But such an eventuality would not occur for the Ivory Coast international, as he made just 12 appearances for the Red Devils last season, partly due to a knee injury which saw him miss 22 games.

Diallo did, though, show glimpses of what he is capable of in United colours last campaign, such as scoring a last-gasp winner against bitter rivals Liverpool in an FA Cup quarter-final.

The Red Devils went on to lift the famous old trophy last spring, a feat which may not have been possible if it wasn't for the wideman's exploits in the quarter-final.

Diallo will therefore have headed into the current campaign with a feeling that this could be the season where he establishes himself as a regular starter.

However, under the stewardship of former Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag, the wideman would continue to suffer a lack of game time earlier this term, and was an unused substitute during Premier League encounters with Aston Villa and Brentford in October.

But since Ten Hag's sacking, the 22-year-old has been trusted to produce the goods by Ruud van Nistelrooy, which has proven to be a fruitful decision.

United emerged as 2-0 winners following a Europa League tie with Greek outfit PAOK last Thursday, thanks to a Diallo brace, while his second goal was particularly impressive as he curled an effort past a helpless Dominik Kotarski in the PAOK goal.

The Ivorian followed up his Europa League exploits with a positive performance in the Premier League on Sunday, as he assisted Bruno Fernandes with a clever back heel, and the Portugal international scored to send the Red Devils on their way to a 3-0 win over Leicester City.

Diallo now has three goal contributions in his last two games, and while the Old Trafford faithful may view this as a new-found ability in the final third, Black Cats supporters will certainly not be surprised by such developments, given the way he used to dazzle opponents in the second tier.

Amad Diallo may continue to prove Sunderland fans right under Ruben Amorim

Following the dismissal of ten Hag, the Red Devils chose to appoint Sporting boss Ruben Amorim as their new head coach, and the 39-year-old will look to make a positive start to a new era for the red side of Manchester.

With that in mind, Amorim will likely make different choices to that of Ten Hag in terms of player selection, which will likely spell good news for Diallo, who has already become a more prominent player during van Nistelrooy's spell as interim boss.

And if the Ivorian's recent exploits are anything to go by, he will be capable of continuing his rich vein of form under Amorim, which would not surprise Black Cats supporters in the slightest given his positive spell at the Stadium of Light two seasons ago.