It was not even nine months ago that Erik ten Hag had no intention of playing Amad in the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry. Ten Hag was only railroaded into it through Marcus Rashford's substitution in added time.

Amad entered almost without being noticed. Thousands of Manchester United supporters, incandescent at the team's collapse from 3-0 to 3-3, barracked Rashford while Sky Blue fans were floating towards the sky in a state of delirium.

Ten Hag effectively bracketed Amad with the academy whippersnappers on the bench: Omari Forson, Habeeb Ogunneye, Harry Amass, Louis Jackson and Ethan Wheatley. Forson had failed his audition against Fulham in February when he unfathomably started ahead of Amad.

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Whilst attempting to convince the power brokers that they should stick with him, Ten Hag singled out the Coventry farce, a match where he was a toenail away from a potential sacking that night. He absolved himself of any blame, pinning the 19-minute capitulation on the fragile players. The bench was so depleted, he protested, that he felt he effectively had only two senior substitutes.

The next time United were back at Wembley against light-blue shirted opponents, there was a credible case to play Amad. He had finally earned an overdue first meaningful Premier League start against Arsenal and scored in the home win against Newcastle three days later.

One of the most celebrated images from United's 13th FA Cup win was of Amad, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund posing with the trophy. The giddy and the gullible believed they represented United's future.

Hojlund, dropped for United's run-in, hung off the coattails of poster boys Garnacho and Mainoo. All three have endured troughs this season but not Amad. His image will adorn the bedroom walls of United-mad boys and girls.

2024 was Amad's first proper year with United despite signing in 2020. The Manchester Evening News was the first to report United's interest and it was inaccurately stated in Italy that Amad would move to Parma.

He flew into Manchester in January 2021, had a handful of games and missed practically the first half of the 2021-22 season with a thigh injury.

There were loans to Rangers and Sunderland in 2022 over an 18-month period and a knee injury during United's 2023 pre-season tour kept him sidelined until December 30. In 2024, he got better and better. After he was given a chance.

Following his first appearance for United in more than two years at Nottingham Forest, Amad did not appear again for another two months in the defeat to Fulham, infamous for Forson's one and only start.

Before he lined up against Arsenal, Amad was brought on nine times by Ten Hag with United either drawing or losing. With Amad starting, they almost immediately started winning.

His progressive few months, garnished by the unforgettable FA Cup winner against Liverpool, was recognised by the hierarchy, if not Ten Hag. Amad was considered an integral squad member in the close season and then excelled during pre-season, scoring stylishly against Rangers and Real Betis.

During United's nine days in Los Angeles, five British players refused to do any media. Scott McTominay, Jadon Sancho and Aaron Wan-Bissaka possibly had their bags packed for different flight transfers. Mason Mount had to be persuaded to speak to those arch interrogators at MUTV while Marcus Rashford remained aloof.

So Amad, barely 22, chaired a press conference. Softly-spoken, he further endeared himself. Cynical colleagues were so impressed they clasped hands with him on his way out of the JD Morgan Center at UCLA.

His character matches his quality. His step-mother died on the eve of United's fixture at Brighton in August but Amad wanted to play. He did and scored.

By then, Amad had switched agencies, a natural strategy when there is a contract to negotiate. He is represented by the former Chelsea midfielder Enrique de Lucas and Carlos Cambeiro, a pair of agents easily bedazzled who were never going to daunt United.

Hence why United did not trigger the one-year option in Amad's previous deal. For nine days, he could have negotiated a pre-contract with an overseas club but all parties were on the same page.

In Ruben Amorim, he has a manager who is entirely trusting of him. Ruud van Nistelrooy was, too, during his four-game caretaker stint. Under Amorim, Amad has excelled as both winger and playmaker, settling into the latter role since United beat Viktoria Plzen a month ago. He has started in 11 of the 16 post-Ten Hag matches.

Amad could potentially be trialled as a false nine, a position Ten Hag crowbarred him into a handful of times. When United last played at Arsenal, Amorim was still rotating too extremely and put Amad on the bench three days after he inspired the 4-0 defeat of Everton.

He will be starting at the Emirates on Sunday.