Phil Jones, a former Manchester United defender, thinks Chido Obi, a teenage sensation, should be prepared to contribute to the first team this season. The young player’s chances may be limited by the signing of £74 million striker Benjamin Sesko, particularly given United’s early elimination from the Carabao Cup and failure to qualify for Europe, but Jones still sees him earning opportunities.
Obi made his debut against Tottenham in February after joining United from Arsenal’s academy the previous season. He made eight appearances under Ruben Amorim, and when he was included in Amorim’s starting lineup for United’s May match against Brentford, he became the team’s youngest-ever Premier League starter.
Jones, however, feels the Danish Under-21 international is more than ready for senior football after rising through the ranks. “When he was playing 18s football, it was men against boys. He was bullying people, it was so easy for him,” Jones told Metro courtesy of FreeBets.com.
“I think he needs to understand where he is at in his head and figure out what his realistic expectations are. Is he going to play every game? No. Is he going be on the bench every game? No.
“But what he needs to do is make sure that when he is called upon, and there will be times he is called upon and he will get chances, that he is ready and happy. He has to be professional and be ready because if he is they will have one hell of a player.”
For the first few games of the season, Obi has rejoined United’s Under-21 team, with Sesko and fellow newcomer Matheus Cunha playing in the No. 9 position. The teenager scored his second goal of the season to assist the team upset Manchester City last time out. He has featured three times in Premier League two, starting twice.
Other strikers have been permitted to depart on loan by United, including Ethan Wheatley, who is playing for Northampton Town in League One, and Rasmus Hojlund, who is joining Napoli in a deal that might become permanent next summer. But Obi hasn’t left Old Trafford yet.
Jones’ comments come after Denmark Under-21 boss Lars Knudsen made it known that he feels Obi needs regular football. “I can’t stand here and say anything about that, because it’s somewhere else than with me,” Knudsen said, as reported by Bold.
“It’s just a hope we have for the national teams, because we know that playing time is crucial. This is both for performance, but also for these young people in terms of developing themselves. Of course, we hope that he will get somewhere where he can play.”
Obi wasn’t part of Denmark’s squad for the Under-21 Euros, where Newcastle forward Will Osula led the line. He is part of Knudsen’s first squad for the upcoming break, though, along with United striker Hojlund’s younger brother Oscar.
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