Chido Obi has spoken out after making his Manchester United debut in Sunday’s 1-0 Premier League defeat against Tottenham Hotspur. The 17-year-old striker returned to north London after his high-profile summer switch from Arsenal as part of Ruben Amorim‘s senior squad for the first team.
Amorim named eight uncapped youngsters alongside Victor Lindelof on his bench at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after suffering an injury and illness nightmare during the week.
Amad has been ruled out for the rest of the season with ankle ligament damage, while Kobbie Mainoo faces weeks on the sidelines due to a muscular problem.
Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer were also out of action due to their own injury issues, while Christian Eriksen and Leny Yoro were taken ill.
Amorim was reluctant to call on his youthful bench as United chased an equaliser after James Maddison’s first-half opener.
And the United head coach faced an onslaught of criticism for waiting until the first of three minutes of stoppage time to introduce Obi.
The Denmark youth international didn’t touch the ball once before the final whistle. However, he expressed his gratitude to United and Amorim in his post-match reaction.
“Disappointed with the loss. On a personal note, thanks to the gaffer and the club for making a dream come true for me and my family,” Obi wrote on Instagram.
United’s success in luring Obi from Arsenal to Old Trafford last year was considered a significant coup, given his eye-catching exploits in youth football.
The towering striker is the all-time record scorer in the U18 Premier League with 41 goals and has continued his prolific performances in Manchester.
Obi has scored 12 goals across nine U18 Premier League and FA Youth Cup games this season and enjoyed a few run-outs for the Under-21s.
Amorim suggested that the wonderkid can expect more minutes in the coming months by admitting that Rasmus Hojlund was his only natural striker.
“I think Josh [Zirkzee] is not a clear nine,” Amorim explained after full-time in the capital.
“He played more as a ten, he is stronger physically, he’s thinner, so he is working really hard, and he plays in a better position for him.
“He’s improving, he’s winning more duels, and he’s even faster; you feel it in the game.”
Amorim will hope some of the 12 first-team players who were missing from the trip to Tottenham are available for Saturday’s final visit to Goodison Park, where David Moyes’ rejuvenated Everton await.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk