Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is reluctant to recall Amad from his impressive season-long loan spell at Sunderland.

The 20-year-old has scored six goals in 11 starts for the Championship side and United have a recall option amid Ten Hag’s interest in signing a forward this month.

United sources have indicated a loan deal is the likeliest outcome should they reinforce their attack and Everton have just recalled striker Ellis Simms from Sunderland.

“We consider everything but I have a little bit of reservation about [recalling Amad] because I don’t want to stop the process,” Ten Hag said. “He has made really good progress there so I’m happy with that.

“But young players need experiences and when we decide for him to come back, he has to be a player who can compete for the starting XI or minimum to come on for a lot of games and make an impact.”

After an unfulfilling loan spell with Rangers last year, Amad did not start any of United’s six pre-season games and he played as a centre forward in the three matches he appeared in, scoring in the 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag was also prepared to loan fellow winger Facundo Pellistri, who signed for United on the same day as Amad but is still yet to make his debut more than two years on. The United manager felt Cote d’Ivoire international Amad was not ready to figure regularly in the first team.