Ruben Amorim dealt Man Utd selection blow ahead of Europa League knockouts | Football

Manchester United will not be able to call on the services of young striker Chido Obi in the Europa League knockouts.

Languishing in 14th place in the Premier League and knocked out out of the FA Cup by Fulham on Sunday, United’s only hope of a trophy – and a return to the Champions League – is via the Europa League.

United finished third in the league phase and were the only team to go unbeaten in their first eight games of the competition.

However, Amorim’s side have been dealt a testy last-16 tie against Spanish side Real Sociedad who eased past Midtjylland with a 7-3 aggregate win in the playoffs.

The Red Devils are still searching for consistency under Amorim and have won just one of their last four games in all competitions.

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A rare bright spark, however, has been the recent cameo appearances of Chido Obi who has been fast-tracked into the first team having signed from Arsenal’s academy in the summer.

The 17-year-old has made three brief appearances off the bench and, while yet to score, has looked lively in the final third.

Speaking after their penalty-shootout defeat to Fulham, Amorim hinted that Obi could be in line for a first start as United search for more attacking thrust.

‘Anything can happen in the next games, and during training,’ Amorim told reporters in his post-match press conference.

‘We don’t have a lot to time to train, but we need to see the opposition, feel the moment of the player physically in this moment with a lot of games, because we are going to start playing Thursday-Sunday.

‘We have a problem with goals. Today we create situations, but sometimes you feel that only in set pieces we are going to make some danger.’

However, it has now been confirmed that Obi will not be able to play a part in the rest of United’s Europa League campaign due to elibility rules.

Having joined United late in the summer window, Obi was not included in United’s squad for the league phase.

However, the young striker was not added to the squad following the January transfer window, with Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven, Jack Fletcher instead replacing Marcus Rashford, Tyrell Malacia and Antony following their loan departures.

Obi’s inability to play comes as both Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund struggle desperatly for form in front of goal.

Combined the two have just 11 goals in all competitions this season, while Hojlund, in particular, has now gone 18 games in all competitions without a goal.

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