The suggestion that Antony merited playing time ahead of Amad on account of his training form was a suitable enough incentive for Manchester United’s matchwinner. Amad scored twice against PAOK.

Having been frozen out by Erik ten Hag, Amad is warming up again. In his cameos before his recall, he injected the United attack with impetus. A first start in seven games elicited a first goal since August to jolt spectators from their slumber. His second was even better.

Abdul Rahman Baba got away with fouling Amad inside the area in the first half. Amad got away from him in the second, pick-pocketing the former Chelsea misfit and lashing the ball beyond the goalkeeper from outside the area.

The only pity was Amad’s night ended early as he was forced off through injury. He was mobile enough to walk off the pitch and remained in the dugout rather than limping towards the tunnel. He embarked on a lap of honour at full-time barefoot. The majority back at Old Trafford on Sunday will hope Amad starts again.

Amad was the only change Ruud van Nistelrooy made to the front six from the draw with Chelsea and there could not have been a more popular scorer. Amad became a fleeting cause celebre during the final days of Ten Hag’s reign after Antony emerged ahead of him against Fenerbahce. Antony, back in the squad after nursing an ankle sprain for two weeks, was unused.

To any objective observer, Amad is the better right winger. He was the only bright performer in another drab first half, earning a roar of approval from the Stretford End for his pressing.

Ruben Amorim will demand an effective and industrious right midfielder when he replaces Van Nistelrooy in the dugout, as Geovany Quenda demonstrated against Manchester City. Amad, whether from the right or the left, has the attributes for Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation.

With a spare seat in the dugout, Van Nistelrooy is now joined by Darren Fletcher, previously in the stands. Amad’s header evoked memories of Fletcher’s perfectly placed breakthrough at the Scoreboard End against Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea 19 years earlier.

Amad milked his moment, embracing some supporters, kissing the badge and then wandering around the centre circle for the restart. Van Nistelrooy wasn’t having that and beckoned him back to the touchline.

There was little to distinguish United from their incumbent Dutch manager and his predecessor in the first half. Amorim cannot arrive quickly enough to deprogramme an anaemic squad and impose his style. Too often, United have been unwatchable for their paying supporters.

PAOK’s analysts were audibly irked that they were not ahead at the interval. They were even more dismayed when Tarik Tissoudali tamely hit the ball straight at Andre Onana on the hour. The second half at least flew by as swiftly as Amad.

United have finally ended their winless run in European competition. It is an unimpressive two wins in 12 games though the bigger picture is their standing in the Europa League league format is healthier at the halfway point. United are unbeaten in four matches and will have Amorim in charge against Bodo/Glimt, Viktoria Plzen, Steaua Bucharest and Rangers.

Van Nistelrooy gave Diogo Dalot a pointer early on and moments later the full back’s wayward header granted Andrija Zivkovic a shot at goal. A dissatisfied Van Nistelrooy crossed his arms and wandered back to the dugout. Dalot briefly bickered with Manuel Ugarte after Zivkovic hit the target in the 29th minute.

Dalot, back at left back, and Alejandro Garnacho were both hooked past the hour. Part rest but also decisive action to remove United’s two poorest performers.

The Romanian referee nor Italian Video Assistant Referee were capable of identifying a visible foul by Baba Rahman on Amad. As atrocious as the officiating was, there were only 19 minutes on the clock. More than enough time for United to end their winless run in Europe.

Rather than be galvanised by the injustice, United played out one of their most lifeless halves of the season. Bruno Fernandes snapped at Garnacho twice in the same minute for a loose pass and it was not his first of the evening. Garnacho has become a more decisive forward in the past year but has regressed of late.

Jonny Evans, a beneficiary of Van Nistelrooy’s rotation, communicated with Ugarte and Casemiro, the former starting a third successive United match for the first time. Van Nistelrooy put his hands together after Ugarte’s prompt pass that Garnacho misused in the 21st minute. For all of Casemiro’s shortcomings, commitment is not one of them and he was serenaded by the Stretford End.

Understandably, the loudest cheer was reserved for Amad.