Manchester United will be without Chido Obi for their FA Youth Cup showdown against Arsenal tonight.
The 17-year-old forward, who joined United from Arsenal in October, has been in outstanding form for the Under-18s this season.
However, as Mail Sport’s Nathan Salt reports, he has been held back from the squad due to his involvement with Ruben Amorim’s first team.
The Red Devils will be in action for Sunday’s FA Cup clash against Fulham.
Obi has been one of United’s standout performers in the Youth Cup, scoring seven goals in just three matches.
His performances earned him a call-up to Amorim’s squad following Amad Diallo’s season-ending injury.
Since stepping up, he has already made his first-team debut away to Tottenham and played in the 2-2 draw at Everton.
He was also on the bench for United’s 3-2 win over Ipswich on Wednesday night but remained an unused substitute.
Despite speculation over whether he would be allowed to drop back down for tonight’s Youth Cup clash, club sources have confirmed that United are prioritising his recovery.
As well as preparation for the FA Cup tie at the weekend.
A major blow for the U18s
Obi’s absence is a significant setback for Adam Lawrence’s side, who were hoping to rely on his firepower in this crucial fixture.
The responsibility will now fall on the likes of James Scanlon, who netted twice against Chelsea in the last round.
Gabriele Biancheri too, who bagged a hat-trick in the 5-0 win over Coventry City.
Speaking after Obi’s debut at Tottenham, Amorim praised the teenager’s instincts inside the box.
“I think if you see Chido playing, sometimes every ball lost in the box, he is very clever,” the United boss said.
“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.”
It would not be a surprise to see Chido Obi push for more minutes on Sunday.
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