It's rare for a player's reputation to improve without them being on the pitch, yet that's precisely what has happened with Amad Diallo this season. Amad sustained a "niggle" during training on the eve of the campaign opener against Hull, but the problem has proved sufficiently serious to rule him out of all seven Manchester United fixtures to date. Michael Carrick has indicated that Amad could return against Tottenham this weekend, the first match after the international break. And that would provide a considerable boost as the 24-year-old is a crucial member of the attack, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding Benjamin Sesko's shin injury.
Carrick has declined to reveal specifics regarding Sesko's injury, though United's medical staff face a challenging task if the striker is genuinely battling shin splints, an ailment which plagued Andy Cole during the 1990s.
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Such injuries prove notoriously difficult to manage, as they can resurface without warning, evidenced by Sesko's return to the treatment room despite believing he'd overcome the issue after missing pre-season for rehabilitation.
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Sesko's condition has been further evaluated at Carrington throughout the international break, suggesting that, at least in the immediate future, Carrick may be deprived of his squad's sole natural centre-forward.
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Sesko's potential absence would be a setback, though Carrick has shown a tendency to deploy a striker-less attacking trio, even when the Slovenian has been fit for selection.
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Sesko has featured exclusively as a substitute in the Premier League this campaign, with his two starts coming against Sabah in the Champions League and Brighton in the Carabao Cup.
Carrick's favoured attacking trio has been Marcus Rashford, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, prompting debate among supporters about whether he genuinely considers deploying a natural striker his ideal approach.
Such a system proved highly successful for Carrick last term, and the forward line can demonstrate greater dynamism, fluidity and pace when Sesko is absent. Yet this season's difficulty has been that Cunha has been selected to operate centrally.
Following Rashford's return, Cunha has been shifted from the left flank to a central role, with Mbeumo positioned on the right, though the Brazilian has appeared ill-suited to that position, which helps explain why Amad's return from injury is significant.
Mbeumo proves more effective centrally than Cunha, and he can occupy that role when Amad is available, as the latter would feature on the right, presenting a selection between Rashford and Cunha on the left.
It was no coincidence that Cunha appeared more threatening when he switched to the left against Fulham before the interval, which enabled him to cut inside and net an equaliser, albeit with a fortunate deflection. The attacking unit functions more effectively when Amad is available.
Cunha performs better operating from the left flank, while Mbeumo poses a greater danger through the centre. It's a win-win scenario, meaning Amad's potential return for the weekend fixture would represent excellent news.
The circumstances surrounding Amad's injury proved particularly untimely, given he appeared poised for an impressive season, radiating self-assurance during the World Cup where he delivered two outstanding goals for the Ivory Coast.
Amad resembled his form from the 2024/2025 season at the World Cup. It's often overlooked, but he recorded double figures for both goals and assists throughout that particular season, establishing himself as United's most influential performer for considerable periods.
He delivered a magnificent winning goal against Manchester City in December 2024, the leveller against Liverpool at Anfield, and produced a remarkable 10-minute hat-trick against Southampton.
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He was challenging for the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year accolade before sustaining an ankle problem ib a training session, sidelining him for three months and ultimately allowing Bruno Fernandes to claim the honour.
It's impossible to ignore that Amad's output proved inadequate last season, managing merely two goals and four assists in all competitions, yet his displays throughout the summer indicated he would rediscover his finest form for United when the fresh campaign began.
He'll be desperate to return to action having sat out the opening seven fixtures, with his unavailability serving as a stark reminder of his significance to the squad, both as an offensive weapon and as a tireless worker. "I actually think he's playing well," said Carrick when he was asked about Amad's form earlier this year.
"I think, yeah, numbers in terms of goals and assists.... I think there's an awful lot more in the game, playing in a winning team as he has, to worry about numbers.
"I think he gives the team so much. He's got so much talent, he's got so much ability, but his work ethic and his attitude is fantastic as well. He has played different roles at times. I'm a big fan of Amad."