Manchester United’s struggles in front of goal this season has led to Ruben Amorim dipping into the pool of youngsters he has available in his youth ranks.
17-year-old Chido Obi has featured for the first team in recent games as first choice striker Rasmus Hojlund continues his run of awful form.
The youngster made a positive impact in the recent FA Cup defeat to Fulham, giving the visiting defenders more of a headache than Hojlund managed in the opening hour.
As reported by MSN News, former United striker Andy Cole has spoken on Obi’s future at the club with the forward positions up for grabs in Amorim’s squad.
Cole believes Obi has the potential to make his stay in the first team permanent with family members of the Treble winner also signing his praises.
“When you’re raw and you’re 17, you have no fear. I looked at him yesterday… He’s definitely got a chance,” Cole said.
‘My nephew worked with him and my nephew said: ‘Yeah man, he’s got a chance’.”
Cole was speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s Presents podcast with the host also backing the young Dane to make an impact at Old Trafford. His striking instincts have also impressed the former centre-back.
“He’s still rough around the edges and he should be. But what I don’t have any fear about is that he will get chances. He’s not in the game but the ball falls and he’s there,” Ferdinand said.
Given United’s current plight, Obi will certainly be in for more game time between now and the end of the campaign and has a real chance to stake a claim for a spot in the first team next season.
Amorim now faces a dilemma as to whether to persist with Hojlund or throw the youngster in from the start for the visit of his former club Arsenal on Sunday.
Unfortunately, Obi isn’t registered for the Europa League which restarts this coming Thursday and represents the only chance of salvaging something from a woeful season to date.
Therefore, Amorim will have to persist with Hojlund for the trip to Sociedad but domestically, the 22-year-old could find himself playing second fiddle to Obi, should he take his chance in the coming weeks.
Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images
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Conner Botterill
Conner Botterill has been with The Peoples Person for two years. A keen match-going red with degrees in Sport and Journalism and Philosophy and Psychology, Conner still believes he has a chance of making United’s first team through his 5-a-side career.
