Manchester United's £40 million winger struggles, Mason Mount could change his fate in 24 days! Returning from injury aiming to impress Carrick.

In Manchester United's 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, Amad Diallo became the focal point of a key incident. He was pushed in the penalty area, but referee Stuart Attwell did not award a penalty. Bournemouth immediately launched a counterattack and scored, erasing United's 1-0 lead.

Carrick angrily criticized the referee for missing the penalty after the match. However, the controversial decision overshadowed another fact: this game shouldn't have become contentious. If Amad had controlled the ball properly, he should have been one-on-one with the goalkeeper and scored directly.

Of course, it might not be surprising that Amad failed to convert that golden opportunity into a goal. Since his impressive performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored three goals, his form at Manchester United has suddenly vanished. Statistics show that this €40 million winger has gone ten consecutive matches without a goal or an assist.

In fact, Amad's overall performance this season has been inefficient, with only two goals and three assists in 25 appearances. Under Carrick, in ten matches (eight starts, two substitute appearances), he has produced nothing, which is naturally not a good return. His last goal was in the first home match against Bournemouth in December last year, where he played as a right wing-back.

The reason Amad continues to get opportunities is primarily because Carrick has almost no other traditional winger options, so he is forced to choose Amad. The Ivorian winger is at least willing to receive the ball near the right flank and attempt to beat opponents.

Unfortunately, Amad's shooting and crossing abilities are limited. More often, he cuts inside and takes a shot, which is usually blocked by defenders or saved by the goalkeeper because they can predict his next move; his shots and passes are not as unpredictable as Arjen Robben's.

Amad has his strengths, particularly being quite effective in high pressing, but his decision-making in the attacking third, whether choosing the right pass or finishing, remains a clear area for improvement. Statistically, Amad contributes to a goal every 366 minutes for Manchester United, equivalent to four matches, which is very poor efficiency.

However, Amad shows better efficiency for the Ivory Coast national team. This week, in their 4-0 win over South Korea, he provided an assist in just 20 minutes as a substitute. The contrast is stark: for Ivory Coast, 12 matches yield 4 goals and 3 assists; for Manchester United, 26 matches yield only 2 goals and 3 assists.

Amad's fans blame Manchester United's tactics: in Amorim's 3-4-3 formation, Amad was forced to play as a right wing-back; in Carrick's 4-2-3-1, although he is a winger, defensively he must drop into a 4-4-2 shape to assist on the flank.

Of course, attributing the problem to defensive duties is a weak excuse. Former Manchester United forwards Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez often chased opponents back to their own penalty area, yet that didn't hinder them and Cristiano Ronaldo from becoming the club's strongest attacking trio. Amad's fundamental issue lies in his own awareness.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry highlighted a moment after Manchester United's 3-1 win over Aston Villa. Bruno Fernandes wanted the ball, but Amad didn't pass it. "B费 asked for the ball, but when he finally received it, the opportunity was gone," Henry said. "He wanted Amad to pass directly to him, not via Ugarte. He shouted at Amad for at least seven seconds!"

If English player Mason Mount can regain fitness and form, he might have a chance to challenge Amad in the final seven matches of the season. During the 24-day international break, Mount and several other players not called up for national teams have an opportunity to try to impress Carrick, but perhaps only the former Chelsea starlet has a real chance.

Carrick singled out after the Bournemouth match: "We have Mount, Zirkzee, Malacia, and Luke Shaw still with the squad, while most other players are away for international duty. The international break feels long. Those national team players are different; they still train and play two matches. For us, we must make good use of this rest period."

Zirkzee is a striker who can also drop into a No. 10 role, but Manchester United has the ironman B费 in that position, plus the Dutchman's tempo is too slow, making his chances at the end of the season very slim. Although Mount is also a No. 10, he can play right wing, left wing, and even as a striker.

The Manchester Evening News believes Mount is the most intriguing player in United's situation. The paper does not think he will be sold, as Carrick admires him. Mount is a coach's dream player, and before his recent injury, he performed well this season. Of course, since the tactical change, his role remains questionable.

From an ability perspective, Mount is a valuable team player, and his versatility should earn him some playing time next season when United return to the Champions League and face a denser schedule. However, his £250,000 weekly wage is not typical for a rotation player, and he will eventually be offloaded by United.

Time is running out for Mount to prove himself. Sir Jim Ratcliffe's plan to clear out high-wage players, after Casemiro, Rashford, and Sancho, should target Mount, who earns £250,000 per week.