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Manchester United legend Lee Sharpe has urged Ruben Amorim to take a chance on 17-year-old Chido Obi amidst the club’s goalscoring woes.
United have struggled to find the back of the net all term, with both Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund struggling to consistently come up with the goods.
In recent matches, Zirkzee has mostly played as a number 10, impressing in the role, while Hojlund has been left to lead the line for United – a responsibility he has failed at spectacularly. The Dane’s goal drought extended to 20 matches in Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Arsenal, during which he fumbled a gilt-edged chance to net a second-half winner.
The 22-year-old has managed just two top-flight goals this term and it’s not a surprise why the signing of a reliable striker appears to be United’s primary agenda heading into the summer transfer window.
Meanwhile, fans have been given some hope by Obi, who has been making waves in the academy since ditching Arsenal for Old Trafford a few months ago. The towering teen has already accrued a smattering of cameo appearances off the bench for the first team, the most notable one being his impressive display during the FA Cup exit at the hands of Fulham.
Obi replaced Hojlund in the 68th minute of proceedings and gave United significantly more attacking thrust in comparison to his fellow countryman. The youngster had a few sights of goal, including a good opportunity that forced Bernd Leno into a save. Such was Obi’s impact, his ineligibility for the Europa League caused a bit of a stir within the fanbase.
Amorim has previously stated that he is cautious about introducing young players during a turbulent period, but Lee Sharpe has taken a different stance.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Peoples Person, hosted by BetBrain, Sharpe remarked, “I think in the current situation, I’d just throw him [Obi] in.”
“I don’t think he’s [Amorim] got anything to lose. Hojlund has not scored a goal I don’t know…in six months or something? So I don’t think there’s anything to lose.”
“I’d throw him in. I’d give him an hour and say ‘No matter what you do, you’re going to get the hour, so just go and run your socks off, work hard, try to get on the end of things, try to create things if you’re not getting created for.’ But give him a go.”
“The issue is…you don’t want to kill a player’s confidence before he’s got going and at the moment, the way the team is playing, it’s so hit-and-miss that maybe the manager is quite concerned about the type of performances the team would be putting on.
“If the team get caught under pressure on the edge of their own box for long periods of the game and he doesn’t get a touch, he may become a bit frustrated and get a bit disillusioned but I’d give him a go, I’d give him a run-out.”
“Even when you’re putting him on as a substitute, I’d give him 30,35 minutes. I wouldn’t just give him just 10 or 15 minutes. I think he needs time to get his second wind and to get into the game, to get touches on the ball. I think U21 level or U18 level or wherever he was playing, he’s already proven himself now and now it’s time for him to make the step up and see if he can do it at the highest level.”
Obi did not get a taste of the action against Arsenal and because he’s ineligible to line up in the Europa League this term, the earliest he can get a kick is during Sunday’s trip away to Leicester City.
Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images
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