Chido Obi is building a strong case to be involved for Manchester United. The time could be right for a call-up.
It is one year since Chido Obi made his Manchester United debut. He has eight first team appearances but none of them have come in 2025/26. This weekend’s Premier League fixture could be the perfect time to name him on the bench, when United host Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
Here are four reasons why…
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Chido Obi is in the best form he has been in all season
Chido Obi is in impressive form right now. Earlier this week he scored four goals in an under-21 game against Leicester. He displayed an impressive array of finishing, scoring one header, two with his left foot, and one with his right.
Obi has scored 14 goals in all competitions for the under-21s and 18s, recently netting against City in an academy game that Michael Carrick was on the sidelines for.
Part of the key to success for a striker is confidence, and Obi will feel like he has the golden touch right now after his four-goal haul in his last game. If he gets a chance against Palace, there is a strong chance he will take it.
Chido Obi playing against Derby County in the FA Youth Cup
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Benjamin Sesko starting role could call for a new game changer
Benjamin Sesko is pushing for a start after netting from the bench in three of his last four appearances. There is quite a good chance that he gets the nod.
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If Sesko does start, do United have a goalscorer on the bench that we can turn to? If Amad is the one that drops out, then not necessarily. Joshua Zirkzee would be the man who Carrick calls on if he needs a goal – and that feels quite uninspired.
Carrick could give himself an extra option if he includes Obi among his substitutes.
In the last game United had two young midfield substitutes, Tyler Fletcher and Jack Moorhouse. Carrick could have a wider variety of options if he has Obi instead of one of them – and this is the case even if Sesko does not start.
Manchester United need to start piling on the goals
Manchester United have won five out of six games under Michael Carrick – but have only won one of those five by more than a single goal. That was the 2-0 victory over City.
United’s goal difference is +11, which is worse than Chelsea’s +17, and only one better than Aston Villa’s +10.
League position could come down to goal difference at the end of the season and United need to start increasing winning margins and being more ruthless.
Having an extra striker on the bench for this home game against a bottom half side makes sense. It’s possible that United’s starters generate a big lead anyway – making the latter stages of the game ideal for Chido Obi’s re-introduction to the team.
Would you give Chido Obi another chance in the first-team?
He's improved a lot for Manchester United…
Chido Obi playing against Fulham U21
Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images
Motivation for Obi’s academy objectives, and timing
After his four-goal performance in midweek, a call-up for Obi will show him that his progress is not going unnoticed.
He has a lot of objectives left to achieve in the academy this season, he is still featuring in the FA Youth Cup, with United in the quarter-finals. United are also at the same stage of the Premier League International Cup, with a tie upcoming against Real Madrid.
A first team call will further boost Obi’s confidence and could have a further positive impact on his short-term academy objectives.
The timing also works. United do not have an under-21 game until Monday night, and there is no under-18 game this weekend, so there is no conflict of interest with calling Obi up to the matchday squad.
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