Erik ten Hag has a lot on his plate right now, but the Manchester United boss will be hoping to make time to watch the EFL play-offs.
That's because three of the Red Devils' potential future stars are set to feature in the semi-finals, all hoping for promotion. United fans have loved watching exciting forward Amad shine on loan at Sunderland, who have the chance to return the Premier League for the first time since being relegated in 2017.
There's also two lesser talked-about names hoping to help their loan clubs go up a division. Firstly, teenage winger Shola Shoretire has been with Bolton Wanderers since January and recently helped them secure a top-six finish in League One. Northern Ireland international Ethan Galbraith has also helped the Class of 92 's Salford City reach the League Two play-offs, giving Ten Hag a reason to sit down and watch some lower division action.
What can the Red Devils manager expect, though? Here's a look at the three loanees looking to impress.
Amad
The standout loanee from United this season, Amad has become a fan favourite at Sunderland, who are enjoying a resurgence under boss Tony Mowbray. Ivorian winger Amad, who joined United from Atalanta in 2020 in a deal which could rise to £37million, struggled for opportunities during his first two years at Old Trafford due a combination of injury and senior players' good form.
After securing a season-long loan following a summer spent working under Ten Hag, Amad has racked up an excellent 13 goals and three assists across 37 league games. Mainly operating from the right flank, the Ivory Coast international, 20, is set to face Luton at home on Saturday before next Tuesday's return leg in a bid to reach the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
Middlesbrough and Coventry are in the other semi-final and fortunately for Sunderland, Amad has previously scored against all three opponents this term in a sign of his importance to Mowbray's team. He could make it a truly special campaign for both him and the Black Cats by stepping up again, just as he did on Monday with a superb goal to spark Sunderland's all-important 3-0 win at Preston.
Whether or not Amad goes all the away with his current club, he'll at least get to visit Wembley once in the coming weeks by attending United's mammoth FA Cup final derby clash with Manchester City on Saturday, June 3. Although the 20-year-old won't be eligible to feature in the match due to being cup tied, Ten Hag is set to invite him as part of the Red Devils' group.
Amad's fixtures:
- Sunderland vs Luton - Stadium of Light, Saturday, May 13 - 3pm
- Luton vs Sunderland - Kenilworth Road, Tuesday, May 16 - 8pm
- Final vs Middlesbrough or Coventry - Wembley Stadium, Saturday, May 27 - 4:45pm
Shola Shoretire
Joining Bolton midway through their second campaign back in League One, Shoretire, 19, had to wait until the final match of the regular season to score his first goal. Pouncing on a loose ball in the first half, the United academy graduate - given his debut by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in February 2021 - struck to show why Bolton boss Ian Evatt believes that he has a "really good future."
"He's a young player with an immense amount of talent," Evatt told Bolton's YouTube channel post-match . "He is a young player so there's always dips, there's highs and lows, but he's going to have a really good future in the game and it's the first of many for him."
Ten Hag is understood to have blocked a loan move last summer in a bid to oversee the 19-year-old's development, but the Dutchman sanctioned his temporary departure in January to cast doubt over Shoretire's long-term future. His testing loan spell has still seen him make 16 appearances, 12 of them being starts, so expect him to be involved in some capacity when the Trotters host Barnsley on Saturday prior to a trip to Oakwell next Friday.
Shoretire's fixtures:
- Bolton vs Barnsley - University of Bolton Stadium, Saturday, May 13 - 3pm
- Barnsley vs Bolton - Oakwell, Friday, May 19 - 8pm
- Final vs Sheffield Wednesday or Peterborough - Wembley Stadium, Monday, May 29 - 3pm
Ethan Galbraith
Finally, Ten Hag might not even get the chance to see Galbraith play for Salford in any capacity if manager Neil Wood - formerly of United's academy - continues to bench him in favour of more in-form team-mates. Already a twice-capped Northern Ireland international, the 22-year-old midfielder was a regular starter for much of the season before recently being dropped.
After being taken off at half-time away to Wimbledon on Easter Monday before Salford came from behind to win, Galbraith has only been given 10 minutes of football in the five games since. Adding to his struggles, United are set to release Galbraith this summer, with his contract coming to an end and the club reportedly opting not to exercise his one-year extension clause.
Have your say! Who'll win each of the EFL play-offs? Let us know your prediction in the comments section.
Salford welcome a rampant Stockport County side to the Peninsula Stadium this Saturday before the return leg at Edgeley Park a week later. If Wood's men reach the final against the odds, then they'll face either Carlisle or Bradford City.
Wood worked with Galbraith in United's youth setup, saying in 2019: "Technically, he is unbelievably gifted. He can pick a pass and has all the different varieties of delivery."
Galbraith's fixtures:
- Salford vs Stockport - Peninsula Stadium, Saturday, May 13 - 7:45pm
- Stockport vs Salford - Edgeley Park, Saturday, May 20 - 12:30pm
- Final vs Carlisle or Bradford - Wembley Stadium, Sunday, May 28 - 1:30pm
