Ruben Amorim makes bold FA Cup call vs Fulham as Manchester United coaches experience “major blow”

Ruben Amorim has made a bold call ahead of Manchester United’s clash in the FA Cup fifth-round against Fulham this weekend.

With their Premier League campaign all but over, Manchester United have little left to fight for, currently sitting 14th in the table and far from European qualification.

Ruben Amorim and his squad must now focus entirely on the remaining cup competitions.

Though they were eliminated from the Carabao Cup, United remain in the last 16 of both the FA Cup and Europa League—two trophies they will be eager to win to salvage their season.

Having reached the FA Cup final in each of the past two years—most recently defeating Manchester City at Wembley—they are aiming for a third consecutive final appearance, a feat they have achieved only once before in their history.

Up next, Fulham visit Old Trafford, carrying confidence from an impressive away run, having lost just once on the road since early December.

Amorim makes bold United call as Obi kept for FA Cup clash

Amorim has included Chido Obi in his last three United matchday squads amid the injury problems in attack for his team.

The United boss has seen Kobbie Mainoo and Amad suffer long-term injuries, while Marcus Rashford and Antony were allowed to leave the club on loan in January.

That has afford Obi, who joined the club from Arsenal in the summer, the chance to move up to the first-team. He made his debut against Spurs in mid-February before playing around 20 minutes against Everton in the 2-2 comeback.

The 17-year-old was unfortunate to not see the pitch against Ipswich Town after United were forced down to 10 men after Patrick Dorgu’s red card, however, he is set to be involved against Fulham.

Obi has not been included in the Under-18s squad to travel to London to face Arsenal on Friday night in the FA Youth Cup.

The young striker has been the standout player for Adam Lawrence’s side in the prestigious competition, scoring seven goals in three games, including a hat-trick against Chelsea in the previous round.

He would have certainly been excited to play against his former side on Friday night, and MailSport report that Lawrence and the Academy coaches will see his absence as a “major blow” for the team.

However, Obi will also be excited to play in the FA Cup instead, and the fact that he has been kept in Manchester with the first-team suggests that he could get significant minutes.

Rasmus Højlund has been struggling up front for United in recent weeks and Obi would be dreaming of a potential start, although it remains more likely he comes off the bench with 20-30 minutes remaining.

The 17-year-old still has over four months to create history and become the youngest-scorer in United’s Premier League history.

He has around a month longer to become the youngest-ever scorer for United in the FA Cup in front of George Best, who scored against Barnsley in 1964 at 17 years, 8 months and 24 days, and will be eager to break that record.

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