PHIL JONES has singled out one academy gem at Manchester United to lead the team into a new era alongside the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo.
Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim was forced to turn to the kids for the Red Devils’ 1-0 defeat to Tottenham last weekend, naming EIGHT teenagers on the bench for the clash.
Phil Jones has named the wonderkid that could make a difference for Man Utd[/caption]
Man Utd named eight teenagers on their bench for their 1-0 defeat to Spurs last weekend[/caption]
Jones reckons Ruben Amorim has plenty of talent in his youth ranks[/caption]
And although the academy kids’ day out was due to an injury crisis, former star Jones reckons that the bench is a sign of a promising future coming through the ranks at Carrington.
Jones, who has been working with the academy at United, singled out 17-year-old striker Chido Obi as one of the youngsters with enough talent to pull the club out of the slump.
Comparing the striker to some of the established players at Old Trafford, Jones labelled Obi as “an animal”.
Speaking to the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, he said: “Working in and around the academy and helping those young players develop, United have some really good and talented young players coming through.
“The squad had a lot of injuries against Tottenham and the bench was full of kids, but there were some talented players on that bench.
“People might not know a lot about them now, but they certainly will in the next few years.
“I think you look at Kobbie Mainoo, top player, you look at Chido who we’ve just signed from Arsenal, who’s an animal.
“You look at Amad who had a couple of really good loans, and I remember watching him winning it against Liverpool in extra time last season, and I had said at that time he’d play a huge part in the next season.
Chido Obi has been highlighted as one of the best talents at Man Utd[/caption]
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
“I played with Amad for a year or two and you could see then that the quality he had was really good and really strong.
“As I said there’s a great crop of young players ready to be given the chance and integrated into the team.”
Chido Obi was the only player to get off the bench for Ruben Amorim‘s side during the defeat to Spurs.
The Danish teenager didn’t actually manage to get a touch of the ball during his three minute cameo, but is tipped for big things inside the game.
Obi arrived in Manchester this summer after signing from rivals Arsenal where he had smashed youth records with his goalscoring exploits.
He managed an astonishing 32 goals in just 18 U18 Premier League appearances for the Gunners last season, and has scored nine in 11 for United’s youth ranks this term.
Amorim will be hoping that Obi can replicate that goalscoring prowess at senior level too, with both Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund misfiring up top at the moment.
Zirkzee has scored just once in his last 13 appearances, while Hojlund has now gone 15 consecutive games without finding the back of the net.
United face Everton in the early kick-off at Goodison Park on Saturday and boss Amorim could call upon Obi to try and turn things around given the club’s dire situation at the moment.
Obi came off the bench in injury time last weekend[/caption]
Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund have been struggling in front of goal[/caption]
