Rúben Amorim has been handed as massive below after news has surfaced that Manchester United cannot select Chido Obi for the remainder of their Europa League campaign.
Rúben Amorim will be looking for his Manchester United side to continue their impressive Europa League form as they take on Real Sociedad in the knockout stage.
Despite their struggles in the Premier League and a recent FA Cup exit, United have won all three of their European matches under the Portuguese coach. They now face La Liga opposition in the round of 16.
The first leg takes place in San Sebastián on Thursday evening, with the return match set for Old Trafford a week later.
With their domestic campaign faltering and the FA Cup no longer an option, the Europa League offers United their only realistic path to securing European football next season, with the winners earning a spot in the Champions League.
Why Obi cannot play in the Europa League
Ahead of the game, Amorim has been hit with a huge blow as it has become known that the head coach cannot select young star striker Chido Obi for the upcoming fixture.
According to the ManchesterWorld, United did not include the 17-year-old in their revised list for the rest of the competition last month, when they submitted a revised list in early February, as he was not considered a first-team player then.
Although some may assume Obi would have instead been included in the club’s B-list players, which effectively allows an unlimited number of youngsters to be added to a matchday squad, UEFA rules prohibit Obi’s inclusion.
The rules state that only “club-trained players born on or after 1 January 2003, who have been with their employers for an uninterrupted period of a minimum of two years, are allowed to be considered for selection” on the B-List.
As Obi only signed for United late last year, he is therefore ineligible for the club’s B-list for the remainder of the Europa League campaign, and so will not be involved.
United hand Amorim massive blow
United chose not to add Obi to the initial list while including January signings Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu is a huge blow to Amorim, considering his lack of options in attack.
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The club’s only first-team forwards are Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Højlund, and Joshua Zirkzee, all of whom have failed to score goals across the last few months.
Obi came on against Fulham in their recent FA Cup defeat and, despite having only 14 touches, impressed fans enough to call for the 17-year-old to be handed a start in midweek after growing frustrations with Højlund.
However, with Obi unavailable, Amorim will have no opportunity to select the wildcard option up-front and will have to make do with his current first-team options until the campaign ends.
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