Manchester United youngster Godwill Kukonki is the “only” academy player to have impressed Ruben Amorim amid interest from the DR Congo in securing the 16-year-old defender’s future at international level.
When Amorim joined as the head coach at Old Trafford in November, to replace Erik ten Hag, the 39-year-old “assessed” the club’s youngsters in his first training session.
And despite talents such as Chido Obi and Shea Lacey in the United ranks, Kukonki was the “only prospect” who impressed the former Sporting manager, the Manchester Evening News reveals.
The defender’s imposing physique – standing 6’5 at only 17 – and left-footedness are two attributes any modern manager will prioritise given the unique nature of both, while his maturity levels are said to surpass his tender years.
“It’s understood Amorim assessed academy youngsters in his first training in November and Kukonki was the only prospect who made an impression on United’s head coach”, the report states.
Kukonki was brought along for the trip to Portman Road to play Ipswich Town in Amorim’s first match, though he was not officially included in the match-day squad. But the 17-year-old was then named by the Portuguese coach as a substitute for a match away to Arsenal – a reflection of how highly-regarded the defender is by his manager.
Speaking after the match against the Gunners, Amorim reversed praise for Kukonki: “He’s 16, but he impressed me a lot, so it’s also a sign to the youth players that they can be here. If something happened with the first-team, they have to step up and I think he’s ready, he’s very adult to handle the Premier League’s demands.”
The youngster has been included in further match-day squads with a sense his senior debut is a matter of sooner rather than later.
The Manchester Evening News notes Kukonki has “caught the attention of other Premier League clubs”, as well as the 17-year-old receiving interest internationally.
Though Kukonki was born in Stoke-on-Trent and joined the Red Devil’s youth set-up as a five-year-old, the centre-back also qualifies for the DR Congo national team due to his Congolese heritage.
And Kukonki’s rapid ascension into the first-team at Old Trafford has put the Congolese Football Federation on red-alert with an “approach” made by representatives to choose the Congo over England.
Kukonki is yet to be called up to an England youth squad but the Manchester Evening News contends this “could happen immediately” due to the growing interest in the uniquely talented 17-year-old.
Featured image Lewis Storey via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
