Manchester United are open to recalling certain players on loan in the January transfer window.
Ethan Laird, Hannibal Mejbri and Amad are on loan to Championship clubs and United have a recall option with each player.
Although United are mindful of facilitating a player's development, senior sources say the needs of the first-team take precedence amid possible squad adjustments in the New Year.
Also read: New Old Trafford could make a United takeover more attractive
Right-back Laird, 21, is midway through a season-long loan at Queens Park Rangers, where he has started the 17 Championship matches he has been available for under manager Michael Beale. However, Beale is expected to be appointed the new manager of Rangers.
Laird played more minutes than fellow right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka during pre-season and started in the final friendly against Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford.
Wan-Bissaka has not started for United since April and his solitary appearance this term was as a late substitute in the win against Liverpool on August 22.
Should the unwanted Wan-Bissaka secure a transfer in January then United would consider recalling Laird to support first-choice right-back Diogo Dalot.
Dalot has started in all but one of United's 21 matches this season - which he was absent for through suspension - and he has been injury-free for more than two years but the lack of specialist cover is understood to concern figures at United.
Full-back Brandon Williams could return from injury to travel with the United squad to Cadiz for their warm-weather training camp next week but the 22-year-old has started only twice for United in the Premier League in the last two years and spent last season on loan at Norwich.
United are lighter in attack following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and Amad has scored three goals in his last five games for Sunderland.
The 20-year-old is also left-footed and Ten Hag identified the surfeit of right-footed forwards as an issue in the United squad during his analysis before he took over.
United are open to recruiting a forward to offset Ronaldo's rancorous exit but the majority of long-term options are likely to be unattainable and the club could have to move for a short-term target.
Well-placed sources insist United can "push the button" to identify potential mid-season recruits.
READ MORE:
