Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray admits he's enjoying working with on-loan Manchester United attacker Amad Diallo.
Mowbray hopes he will get a shot at breaking into the Reds senior team in the future.
However, he urged Erik ten Hag to consider whether he really needs to recall the striker given his development at the Black Cats. The attacker has netted six goals in his last 11 matches and has become a key star in the Championship club's set-up.
“He is a special footballer, I think," he said of Amad, as per the Northern Echo.
“The test for him and for his parent club, of course, is, 'Is he of the required level to try and win a Champions League and Premier League?'
“That's what they have to decide. But for us he is an amazing player. We're delighted he's with us. Hopefully, he can continue for the rest of the season and do exceptionally well." Mowbray added: “Ten Hag has to make those calls on his footballers.
“The balance is always between the achievements of the club [and the player] – so, Manchester United have to be trying to win Premier League titles and competing in the Champions League, and it's not about giving a young guy an opportunity to show how good he can be. They have to produce, they have to do it.
“Man United have to win. With Sunderland coming out of League One, we can try and grow the club, we don't have to win the division this year. If we can compete in the top half, we're doing extremely well, and he's helping us do that."
Mowbray outlined that in the long-run, he is rooting for Amad to get a crack at the United first-team and likened him to Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliot.
“Hopefully, he can get an opportunity at United at some stage," he continued. “I liken him very much talent-wise to Harvey Elliot, the ball stuck to his feet, you know he'll pick the right pass all the time, he knows when to keep it and when to release it.
“His feet are so fast, and Harvey is doing okay at Liverpool, so hopefully Amad will break through that glass ceiling at United. But it's never easy for young players."
