Manchester United secured just their second Premier League win of the campaign yesterday, beating newly-promoted Sunderland 2-0 at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have struggled under Ruben Amorim once again in recent weeks, but the display on Saturday was a glimpse of the success they can achieve under his guidance.
His side achieved a higher tally of shots and shots on target against Regis Le Bris’ outfit, finally looking like a side that can cause problems within the final third.
Goalscoring has been a real issue within 2025/26 to date, scoring just seven times before the two-goal triumph over the Black Cats yesterday afternoon.
However, two players look to have kick-started their campaigns under the 40-year-old, producing numerous impressive figures alongside their goals, which secured three vital points.
Sesko & Mount’s displays against Sunderland for United
Benjamin Sesko netted his first United goal last week during the defeat against Brentford, with the Slovenian doubling his tally with his effort against Sunderland yesterday afternoon.
The youngster produced a centre-forward’s finish, getting in front of the Black Cats’ defender to poke home his effort and give the Red Devils a two-goal advantage.
He also created two chances for his teammates in the process, whilst winning four of the aerial duels he entered – subsequently offering the needed focal point the side have lacked in recent times.
Sesko wasn’t alone in impressing at the Theatre of Dreams, with midfielder Mason Mount taking advantage of his recall to the starting eleven after a two-game absence.
The Englishman featured for just over an hour of the contest, subsequently netting his first goal of the campaign and handing Amorim’s side the lead less than 10 minutes into the contest.
He also completed three passes into the final third, along with an 84% pass completion rate, with such numbers aiding Sesko within attacking areas during the triumph.
However, despite the performances of the aforementioned duo, one other first-team star managed to impress, now emulating the success of one other talent at Old Trafford.
The United star who’s becoming Amorim’s answer to Nani
Back in the summer of 2007, United completed the signing of 20-year-old winger Luis Nani from Sporting CP – with the youngster an unknown quantity to many at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese international made a total of 230 appearances over an eight-year period, subsequently finding the back of the net on 41 separate occasions.
He also became infamous for his iconic goal celebration, with his somersaults being a familiar sight given his goalscoring record during his time as a Red Devil.
The winger claimed a total of seven major trophies during his spell in England, including four Premier League titles and a Champions League triumph – showcasing his success under Sir Alex Ferguson.
However, fast forward to the present day, Amorim may have unearthed his own version of the attacker, in the form of Amad Diallo, with the Ivorian following a very similar route to stardom.
He joined United as a player unknown to many, after the hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £37m for his signature from Atalanta back in the winter of 2021.
The 23-year-old was only 18 at the time of his switch to England, but had to bide his time before making an impact on the first team squad in the Premier League.
However, Amad is now a key member of Amorim’s side, featuring for the entirety of the clash against his former loan outfit during the win on Saturday afternoon.
Despite not registering a goal or an assist during the victory, he registered numerous impressive stats which highlight his positive impact on the meeting.
Amad completed 100% of the 38 passes he attempted, which allowed him to create three chances – the highest of any player on the pitch at Old Trafford.
He also completed the most dribbles in the match (3), whilst also drawing the most fouls (3), with the opposition unable to contain the attacker for the majority of the outing.
Minutes played
90
Touches
62
Passes completed
38/38 (100%)
Dribbles completed
3
Fouls won
3
Chances created
3
Duels won
8
Defensive contributions
10
Despite his small frame, the youngster managed to win eight duels against the Black Cats, topping off what was a superb all-around showing against his former outfit.
After such a performance, there’s no denying that Amad is rapidly becoming one of the most important players on the teamsheet, emulating the levels produced by Nani at Old Trafford.
If he can continue on his current trajectory, there’s no reason why he can’t match the Portuguese star’s levels at the club – potentially leading the Red Devils to added trophies in the years ahead.