MOWBRAY’S AMAD & ROBERTS DILEMMA

Tony Mowbray’s admiration for Patrick Roberts is no secret, he’s said multiple times that he thinks he’s the best player in the league but the form of Amad has kept him out the squad recently, providing a tough task for Tony to keep them both happy.

TALENT

"He's only playing on a regular basis because of his talent. I have to sit Patrick Roberts down in my office, who, in my opinion, is probably the most talented footballer in this league, yet he's not playing.”

AMAD’S ON FIRE

"'Why am I not playing if you think I'm that talented?' 'Well, because this kid assists and scores goals Pat, and with total respect, you scored two amazing goals away at Reading this season and you've had some assists, but Amad's on fire at the moment and he plays in the same position as you'.”

TOUGH DECISION

"My job is to try to find a way of putting them both in the team, yet you have to pick and choose the games where you feel you can be dominant with the ball and put them both in the team at the same time."

HARVEY ELLIOTT

"Harvey Elliott came to Blackburn and played because Liverpool didn't think he was ready to play in their first team. He played a whole season for us and was amazing with the goals and creativity. He was a young kid at 17 who just wanted to play football. You could give him the ball and let him dance with it.”

AN EXAMPLE FOR UTD?

"To be honest, I didn't think he would start in Liverpool's team the following season – they're trying to win the Champions League and Premier League every year – and yet there he was, he was playing the following season. Is Amad going to score 20 goals for us this year and will Man United think he can go and start in their team next year? Will he be there? I don't know.”

REAPING THE REWARDS

"A lot of it is personality and drive, and having a growth mindset and wanting to keep getting better every day. I was just pleased he was at the back post [to finish his chance against Millwall] because, a few months ago, I think he might have been stood on the touchline 30 yards from the goal. Yet there he was, tapping it in. Raheem Sterling goes to work with [Manchester City boss Pep] Guardiola - and I'm certainly not comparing myself to him [Guardiola] - but a different coach telling players different things can make a difference.”

POSITIONAL HELP

"Sterling scored six or seven goals a season, then all of a sudden he's getting 25 to 30, not because he'd become a much better player, but because he'd been given advice on where to play and where he should be. It's just trying to help them really. I can't help Amad do stepovers, I was a big centre-half who headed it. I can't teach him anything about the ball, but I can tell him, 'When the ball's here, you have to be there mate. You have to threaten'. He's still learning and working on it, but he's so clever and bright. Even though the language is still half an issue for us, he understands. He nods, he knows and then he does it. We're delighted with him, and it's amazing to think Patrick is sitting on the bench. He's probably the most talented player in this league, yet Amad's goals and assists are keeping him out at the moment."