Former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray has spoken recently about his former player, Amad Diallo.
Sunderland’s 2022/23 Championship campaign saw them defy expectations straight after promotion from League One, reaching the play-offs.
The side, led by Tony Mowbray, bowed out in the Championship play-off semi-finals, but it was still nonetheless a brilliant season by the Black Cats.
Sunderland’s strength came from the quality in the front three, consisting of Jack Clarke, Ross Stewart and Amad Diallo, with the latter bagging some crucial goals for Mowbray’s side.
The Ivorian truly thrived at the Stadium of Light, leaving Mowbray to reminisce over the youngster after his recent Man United breakthrough under current boss Ruben Amorim.
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Former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray discusses recent conversation about Amad Diallo at Man United
Ever since Amorim was appointed at Man United, Diallo has shone as one of the top players with the Red Devils.
Whilst the emergence of Diallo has just been a recent phenomenon for many, Sunderland fans have been in the know about the winger’s abilities ever since his year-long spell at the Stadium of Light in the 2022/23 Championship season.
Diallo notched 13 goals in 37 Championship appearances for the Black Cats under Mowbray, who was undoubtedly crucial in the Ivorian’s development.
The former Sunderland boss certainly saw the potential of the youngster who he often used on the right-flank, and he has been reminiscing about Diallo on his recent feature on Football Focus, where he said: “I sat with Gary Pallister this morning talking football, talking about Diallo at the moment, of course who I had at Sunderland with me. He’s obviously had an amazing derby game [vs Man City].”
Diallo was heaped with praise by Man United and Sunderland supporters following his efforts in the Manchester derby, with a goal and an assist helping to lead his side to a win.
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Tony Mowbray played crucial role in Amad Diallo’s development
Looking at Diallo’s stints elsewhere prior to his Man United breakout under Amorim, all signs point towards his brilliant stint with Sunderland, a real outlier when comparing to his spells with Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, and Atalanta as a younger. Wearside is where Diallo showed his talents in being a born goalscorer.
Many Sunderland fans will be able to confidently say that without the managerial abilities of Mowbray during his time in the north east, Diallo wouldn’t be at the lofty heights that he currently finds himself at.
From the way that Mowbray was able to nurture him, he was always going to thrive in that Sunderland side, especially alongside the capabilities of Stewart and Clarke in that frontline.