Fatah & Stephenson can leave with their heads held high

[BBC]

If the rumour mill is to be believed and, more convincingly, what we all saw with our own eyes on Saturday, it looks like we may have already witnessed the final appearances of two of our standout players this season.

Both Luca Stephenson and Amar Fatah, our on-loan star men, seem set to miss the run-in, with 17 May shaping up to be a grateful goodbye rather than just another fixture.

Let's start with Luca. Arriving at Tannadice on loan from Liverpool at the beginning of last season, he didn't take long to show exactly what he was about.

Calm, reliable and capable of playing just about anywhere you asked him to, he quickly became one of the first names on the teamsheet. His performances over the season quite rightly earned him United's young player of the year award.

Getting him back for another loan spell this season felt like a minor miracle, football's version of finding a tenner in an old jacket. And once again, he has delivered without fuss or fanfare.

Wherever he's been asked to play, he's done it well, and then just quietly got on with it again the following week.

What happens next for the 22-year-old at Liverpool is anyone's guess, but he has more than shown the ability to make a serious impact at a high level. In short: thank you, Luca, it's been a pleasure.

Now, Fatah. He arrived with a bit more noise around him and a price tag in his recent past to match. Still only 21, already the subject of a £4.5m move to Troyes, and even a trial with Manchester City in 2024, there was every reason for excitement.

It's fair to say he didn't explode out of the blocks. There were moments early on where you could see the quality, but it came in flashes rather than full performances.

But as the weeks went by, those flashes turned into something much more consistent and much more dangerous.

By the business end of the season, Amar had become the spark. The creator. The player you look to when something needs to happen. The kind of player who gets fans out of their seats and occasionally has defenders questioning their life choices.

It hasn't all been smooth, of course. The missed penalty against Rapid Vienna and that red card against Hearts in January were tough moments.

But to his credit, he has responded exactly how you'd hope, by bouncing back stronger each time. Those experiences haven't held him back, they've sharpened him, perhaps even matured him.

Which made Saturday all the more difficult to watch. A loose pass, an awkward moment, and suddenly he's down on the less-than-pristine Tannadice pitch.

As he lay there, the thought crept in this might be the last time we see him in a United shirt. If that is the case, it's a cruel way end, for him and the fans.

Still, football always leaves a little room for hope. There have been whispers about bringing Amar back on loan next season.

While the club would jump at the chance, it's hard not to think he may have bigger opportunities knocking. He looks destined for the next level.

Whether this is goodbye or just "see you later," both Amar and Luca can leave Tannadice with their heads held high. They've given everything, made their mark, and left supporters with plenty of good memories.

Paul McNicoll can be found at the Dode Fox Podcast