Ruben Amorim needs to try and win the FA Cup. (Image: Getty)
have confirmed reports that Chido Obi will play no part in Friday’s FA Youth Cup clash against his former club , having stayed with the first team. The 17-year-old would’ve been chomping at the bit to return to north London, but has kept him in Manchester ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Fulham.
Obi has played a crucial role in the United Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup campaign so far, scoring seven goals in three games, including a hat-trick in a 5-1 mauling of in the last 16. The Red Devils also beat Preston North End and Coventry City on their way to the quarters. But Amorim’s senior side have their own FA Cup tie to worry about this weekend as Fulham visit Old Trafford in the fifth round.
Earlier on Friday, Mail Sport that United wanted to prioritise Obi’s recovery and preparation despite his role as an unused substitute in Wednesday’s 3-2 win against Ipswich Town.
The M16 giants have since confirmed that Obi has stayed behind to work at Carrington while his U18 team-mates visit the Emirates Stadium.Amorim handed the prolific wonderkid his first-team debut in the form of a two-minute cameo at the end of the 1-0 defeat at earlier this month.
Obi then played over 20 minutes from the bench in the 2-2 draw against Everton at Goodison Park last Sunday before watching the Ipswich triumph from the dugout.
Chido Obi iwll be in the first team squad again. (Image: Getty)
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Amorim and his coaching staff have been left impressed by the ex- starlet’s start to life in the senior setup.
“I think if you see Chido playing sometimes every ball lost in the box, he is very clever,” the Portuguese tactician explained after his debut.
“So I was trying to put one more player because I felt the team was good during the game, and I didn’t feel the need to change. And Chido was that player – one long ball, and he can make the difference.”
The first team’s gain will be the U18s’ loss, but manager Adam Lawrence has enough quality to remain confident of progressing to an FA Youth Cup semi-final against Aston Villa.
Gabriel Biancheri and James Scanlon are among the exciting talents at Lawrence’s disposal, but Obi’s absence will be felt on Friday night.
is expected to start again when Fulham visit M16 despite currently enduring a 17-game goal drought. But Obi’s youth team absence all but guarantees he will be in line for more minutes.