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Manchester United’s academy plans have taken on new momentum in recent weeks, with senior staff increasingly focused on stabilising development pathways after a hectic first half of the season.
Ruben Amorim has continued to integrate youth prospects into selected first-team sessions, ensuring the next wave of talent remains closely aligned with the senior environment.
Carrington has also been operating at full intensity following the latest run of fixtures, with coaches emphasising the importance of maintaining rhythm as United prepare for a demanding winter schedule.
Across the academy, several standout performers have emerged, prompting further discussion behind the scenes about which players could be accelerated into senior contention in the new year.
But alongside the excitement over emerging prospects, concerns have grown around the absence of one striker who had been expected to feature far more prominently this month.
Chido Obi’s name has been missing from the Under-21 squad, and it has been confirmed by the Manchester Evening News that his absence is due to a minor injury that has ruled him out for close to a month.
The forward last appeared against Notts County in the EFL Trophy on 4 November, and he has been unavailable for both matches played since domestic football resumed after the international break, including games against Solihull Moors and Anderlecht.
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Before his setback, Chido Obi had produced five goals and two assists in 12 appearances across academy competitions this season, offering the level of output expected from one of United’s brightest attacking prospects.
Although he has not been named in a senior squad this season, his involvement under Amorim last year remains fresh in the memory, with eight first-team appearances and eye-catching displays during the post-season tour to Malaysia and Hong Kong.
Chido Obi also started the opening pre-season friendly against Leeds and travelled on the United States tour, but the club ultimately opted to keep him within the academy setup this campaign.
Amorim recently addressed Obi’s situation, explaining that his breakthrough last season was accelerated out of necessity rather than perfect conditions.
He stressed the importance of managing young players carefully, noting that an early taste of senior football can sometimes mislead teenagers into thinking they are already established at that level.
The manager highlighted that while Obi is firmly part of the long-term picture, the club must be responsible in guiding him through each stage of his development.
United’s Under-21 manager Travis Binnion echoed that sentiment in September, emphasising that Obi is still learning how to function within the team structure and adapt his game beyond pure goalscoring.
Binnion described him as hungry, driven, and eager to train every day, but acknowledged there remains a great deal of growth ahead for a striker who has been scoring prolifically since childhood.
For now, United expect Obi to return to action in the coming weeks, with the club confident his temporary setback will not affect his long-term trajectory.
