Solskjaer drops Diallo start hint ahead of Sociedad clash

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 19 May 2021 11:07 BST
• 2 min read

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has dropped a hint that Amad Diallo may make his first start for the club in the Europa League clash against Real Sociedad on Thursday.

Signed from Atalanta in the January transfer window, the winger has impressed with the Under-23 side, scoring three goals and creating three more in the two games he has played.

Off the back of such form, Diallo was handed his first-team debut against Sociedad in a 4-0 win last week.

Given the comfortable position of the tie, it had been expected that the return match at Old Trafford would present the ideal chance for Diallo to earn his first start.

Solskjaer, though, poured cold water on the idea earlier this week when he said that Diallo would be in the squad but would not start.

The Norwegian, however, appears to have softened his stance on the issue with little more than 24 hours before kick off against the Spanish top-flight outfit.

When quizzed whether Diallo and fellow young prospect Shola Shoretire might feature from the outset for Man Utd for the first time, he said: “Amad and Shola they will be involved, they are in the squad. I won’t be saying if they start or not!”

Solskjaer did, however, confirm that another hot academy product will not be able to turn out against Sociedad.

Hannibal Mejbri, who was signed from Monaco’s academy for £9 million in 2019, will be unable to feature.

“Hannibal is injured unfortunately, so he’ll be out for a month,” Solskjaer confirmed.

Thursday’s match against Sociedad is expected to provide something of a showcase for Man Utd’s fringe players to be involved, with Diallo in line for considerably more than the seven minutes he had last week in Spain even if he does not get a starting berth.