Striker light as Ruben rues loss of Obi for Real test in Euro showdown

RUBEN Amorim suggested United would have included striker Chido Obi in their Europa League squad in different circumstances.

- SAMUEL LUCKHURST

United added January signings Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu to their revised squad for the knockout stage, along with academy mid- fielder Jack Fletcher, but striker Obi was omitted.

Obi joined United from Arsenal's academy in the summer and could not be added to the Uefa B list as he has not spent two years in the United academy. Fletcher has not, either, having arrived from Man- chester City with his twin brother, Tyler, in August 2023. After United submitted the updated squad on February 6, Obi plundered a hat trick for the academy in their 5-1 FA Youth Cup thrashing of Chelsea. He then made his first-team debut at Tottenham four days later and has played twice since.

Senior strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have scored only 12 goals between them this season. Hojlund has gone 18 games without a goal and Zirkzee has got one goal in 16 games.