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Ruben Amorim sends message to Chido Obi-Martin amid calls to promote ex-Arsenal goal machine

Editorial use only. All images are copyright Every Second Media Limited. No images may be reproduced without prior permission. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Cody Froggatt/Every Second Media/Shutterstock (15139576ap) Manchester United forward Chido Obi-Martin during the Manchester United U21's v Tottenham Hotspur U21's English Premier League 2 match at Leigh Sports Village, Manchester, England, United Kingdom on 7 February 2025 Credit: Cody Froggatt/Every Second Media Manchester United U21's v Tottenham Hotspur U21's - 07 Feb 2025
Chido Obi-Martin scored a hat-trick in midweek as Man Utd beat Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup (Credits: Cody Froggatt/Every Second Media)

Ruben Amorim has warned Manchester United fans they must be ‘careful’ amid calls for Chido Obi-Martin to be promoted to the first team.

The 17-year-old joined the Red Devils in the summer having rejected the opportunity to remain at Arsenal.

Obi-Martin shot to prominence last season on the back of his astonishing goalscoring feats for the Gunners and has continued to enhance his burgeoning reputation since his move to Old Trafford.

The Denmark youth international scored a hat-trick in midweek as United crushed Chelsea 5-1 to set up an FA Youth Cup quarter final against Obi-Martin’s former club.

With Amorim’s first team struggling for goals at present and both Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund struggling to convince, the clamour for Obi-Martin to included in United’s first team plans has reached fever pitch.

On the prospect of the teenager being involved against Spurs this weekend, Amorim said: ‘I don’t want to say names.

‘We have to be careful on that. We have problems this week, we called some young players to be in our training. We have some data evaluation. He is one of them.’

Manchester United U18 v Chelsea U18: FA Youth Cup 5th Round
Chido Obi-Martin scored a hat-trick in Manchester United’s Youth Cup win over Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

Amorim, meanwhile warnedUnited will have to sell before they can buy this summer due to financial constraints that are impacting different areas of the club.

Next Thursday marks a year since Sir Jim Ratcliffe completed his deal to become minority owner of United and he has overseen some controversial, wide-ranging changes during that time.

Ticket price hikes have infuriated United fans, and the PA news agency understands those views were put to the British billionaire at a Fan Advisory Board meeting held at Carrington on Thursday.

The club shed a quarter of its staff over the summer and more redundancies are planned as the club continues to cut costs in a bid to reduce losses and aid investment in the team.

Amorim is attempting to oversee that challenging rebuild on the field and leads misfiring United to Tottenham on Sunday, ahead of which he nodded to the issues at hand.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Jon Super/Shutterstock (15145121cb) Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim makes his way from the funeral of former Manchester United footballing legend Denis Law at Manchester Cathedral, Manchester, England, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. One third of the "United Trinity", alongside fellow greats George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton, Law?s goalscoring and 404 appearances saw him earn the nickname of "The King" amongst fans and he remains the only Scotsman to have won the Ballon d'Or. (Photo/Jon Super) Funeral of Denis Law at Manchester Cathedral, UK - 11 Feb 2025
Ruben Amorim must sell before he can buy in the summer (Source: Rex Features)

‘Our biggest problem now is Tottenham,’ the head coach said. ‘We know the moment of the club. Of course I have to understand all of these problems but that problem of our club is not new. You already knew the rules of fair play.

‘We have a problem at the moment, but that cannot influence the way I coach the team and prepare the next game, so my focus is on that and not the other things.’

Pushed on the longer-term impact after restrictions hampered their winter transfer business, Amorim said: “Here is simple – to do something we need to sell players.

‘My focus is to prepare the game. We cannot do (signings) now. The window is closed.

‘We need to focus on the games that we have, especially the next one, and then in the summer we will see.’

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Man City dealt major injury blow as key star out of Liverpool clash

Manchester City's Portuguese defender #03 Ruben Dias (L) and Manchester City's Belgian midfielder #17 Kevin De Bruyne (R) check on Manchester City's Swiss defender #25 Manuel Akanji sitting on the ground following a tackle during the UEFA Champions League football match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Manuel Akanji will be out for at least eight weeks (AFP via Getty)

Manchester City will be without Manuel Akanji for at least eight weeks as the defender will undergo hip surgery.

The Switzerland international was forced off during City’s 3-2 defeat at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Akanji will now miss at least eight weeks, which means the defender will be absent for a minimum of eight Premier League games, including the upcoming fixture against Newcastle United on Saturday, as well as match at home to Liverpool on February 23.

Akanji will also be unavailable for City’s second leg against Madrid next week, as well as their FA Cup tie against Plymouth on March 1.

‘I think it is the abductor,’ Guardiola said at his press conference on Friday.

‘[He will undergo] surgery on Saturday, [and will be] 8-10 weeks out.’

RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE Mandatory Credit: Photo by Jose Breton/NurPhoto/Shutterstock (15146132hd) Jack Grealish left winger of Manchester City and England and Pep Guardiola head coach of Manchester City and Spain talks during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off first leg match between Manchester City and Real Madrid C.F. at Manchester City Stadium on February 11, 2025 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Manchester City v Real Madrid C.F. - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off First Leg, United Kingdom - 11 Feb 2025
Jack Grealish is also a doubt for Man City’s clash with Newcastle this weekend (NurPhoto/Shutterstock)

Meanwhile, Jack Grealish is a major injury doubt for the game against Newcastle after being forced off against Madrid.

‘It’s not as apparent right now as tough as Manu has done,’ said Guardiola.

‘But I don’t know if he’ll be ready tomorrow. We will see and assess in the next hours.’

Elsewhere, Nico Gonzalez was left on the bench for City’s loss to Madrid this week but their £50m January signing from Porto could start against Newcastle this weekend.

‘It’s not a difficult start, he was injured,’ Guardiola said.

‘Difficult start is if he played bad but that’s not the case. He arrived with a little pain especially against Madrid he was not fully fit, but day by day he is getting better.

‘Like I said before with Jack we’ll assess in the next few hours.’

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