🦁 Premier League Player of the Week: Oversized influence

It was a weekend in which Liverpool humbled Manchester City, Arsenal hammered the Hammers and Justin Kluivert converted from the spot.

📸 DARREN STAPLES – AFP or licensors

In the entire Erik ten Hag era United failed to do just that. Rúben Amorim meanwhile, achieved said feat in his first ever domestic match at Old Trafford.

It could be a glorious omen for the Red Devils who swatted aside Everton with complete ease on Sunday as a number of players impressed in the early days of the new Portuguese coach’s reign.

Joshua Zirkzee netted twice and started to look like the player United paid €40m for over the summer.

Marcus Rashford terrorised the Toffees defence in a marked contrast to his performances earlier in the season, whilst Bruno Fernandes looked every inch a commanding captain behind the front man.

But one player stood head and shoulders above everyone else and looks like being one of Amorim’s cornerstones already.

That man is Amad Diallo, who the coach reserved for special praise after the game.

“He is really big in talent, but small in size. He did a great job but he also has to improve. He is [in] a great moment,” said Amorim.

The 22-year-old has been asked to drop back into an unfamiliar wing-back role, with the coach hoping to mould United into a team that plays 3-4-3 out of possession.

That’s asking a lot of the offensive-minded Amad, but in his two Premier League games since Amorim’s arrival, the former Sunderland loanee has been exceptional.

His tireless work rate down that right-hand side was the main reason for Zirkzee’s first and Rashford’s second goal against Everton, whilst no United player completed more take-ons (four), won more tackles (four) created more chances (three) or registered more assists (two).

Talk of a new contract – Amad’s current deal expires next summer – are long overdue, with this diminutive man set for a giant new deal thanks to his oversized influence under Amorim.

📸 Alex Livesey – 2024 Getty Images