Explained: Amad Diallo’s ability to make opponents ‘look silly’ as Man Utd youngster is put in Antony talent bracket

The 21-year-old winger is still waiting on a serious breakthrough at Old Trafford, with nine sporadic first-team appearances taken in to date and one goal recorded. Amad did, however, thrive on loan at Sunderland last season - as he found the target on 14 occasions – and is being tipped for a bright future in Manchester.

Heaton believes the Ivory Coast international can make an impact for United, telling the club’s official website of the most skilful players at Erik ten Hag’s disposal: “That would probably be either Antony or Amad. Obviously both are very tricky players. Their centre of gravity and balance are incredible. They put people on the back foot and get the opposition off balance, so it's difficult to pick between those two. They’re the sort of players who will sit you down, keep dribbling around you and make you look a little bit silly at times, so you have to keep an eye on those tricky ones! I think, probably just because I’ve seen a little bit more of him so far, with Amad being out on loan, I would pick Antony at the moment.”

Heaton has also talked up the finishing ability of Antony Martial, despite the Frenchman being frozen out as United look for a new inspirational No.9 to lead their line – with Rasmus Hojlund about to be entrusted with that responsibility. Heaton said of the most clinical player at Old Trafford: “For me it would probably be Anthony Martial: he can bend it, he can whip it, he can go with power, he can lift it over you. He’s got that composure, that sort of calmness in front of goal that makes it difficult for a goalkeeper. [As a keeper] you very often want people to take a shot early or to force them into something but with Anthony it’s very difficult to affect him, so when he’s through on goal it usually ends up in the net.”

United are in need of an attacking spark from somewhere in 2023-24, as they wait on summer signing Hojlund to recover from injury, with the Red Devils having stumbled their way through two Premier League fixtures against Wolves and Tottenham that have delivered one goal and three points.