Manchester United faces a selection conundrum as injuries to several senior players have prompted the club to fast-track a teenage talent into Ruben Amorim's squad. However, striker Chido Obi will not feature in the upcoming Europa League clash against Real Sociedad, given his ineligibility under UEFA regulations. The 17-year-old, who recently impressed as a substitute during United's FA Cup defeat to Fulham, will instead focus on domestic competitions.
United's decision to add January signings Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven to their Europa League squad underscores the club's need to bolster its lineup amid injury concerns. Despite his promising performance against Fulham, Obi was overlooked because, at the time of squad selection, he was not considered a first-team player. Furthermore, his recent arrival from Arsenal in October disqualifies him from a place on the UEFA B list, which requires players to have been at the club for a minimum of two years.
The absence of key players such as Amad Diallo and Kobbie Mainoo has exacerbated United's selection issues. Additionally, captain Harry Maguire's fitness remains in doubt after he was substituted due to a muscle problem during the Fulham match. Maguire is scheduled for a scan on Monday to determine the extent of his injury. With these uncertainties, Amorim only managed to name seven substitutes against Fulham instead of the permitted nine.
Obi's performance against Fulham has sparked discussions about his potential as a starter, especially considering the form of fellow forward Rasmus Højlund, who has struggled to find the net since December. Despite these conversations, Obi will remain sidelined for the Europa League round-of-16 first leg on Thursday.
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