Danish football pundit Lasse Voge lauded Nigeria-eligible teenager Chido Obi-Martin following his second Premier League appearance for Manchester United in their 2-2 draw with Everton at Goodison Park, Footynaija.com reports.
Obi-Martin earned a promotion to Manchester United’s first team setup as a result of the club’s numerous injury worries. The 17-year-old had impressed at youth level for the Red Devils, netting 15 goals across all competitions.
Having made his senior debut as a substitute in a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, Obi-Martin remained with the first-team and even kept his place in Ruben Amorim’s matchday squad.
He entered the game in the 70th minute, replacing United’s first choice striker Rasmus Hojlund as the Red Devils mounted a comeback from two goals down to secure a draw against the Toffees.
After coming onto the field of play, the former Arsenal academy player displayed his raw talent, putting himself about and proving he is more than just a promising prospect.
Obi-Martin’s physicality impressed Voge, who described him as a player always poised to seize scoring opportunities, one glaring shortcoming of Man United’s first-choice striker Hojlund.
“And then there was Chido Obi, who this time got more than 20 minutes,” Voge said as quoted by BT Sport.
“The 17-year-old Dane is still very raw – but it is clear that he has plenty of ‘presence’, as they say over there.
“He fills the box well and looks like a man who is ready to peck the ball into the box when the opportunity arises.”
Voge also noted that Hojlund’s ‘harmlessness’ to the opposition is becoming a “huge crisis” for Manchester United with the Denmark international once again kept quiet all through the duration of his time on the pitch.
However, at just 17 years old, Obi-Martin is too young to take on the responsibility of leading the attack for one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.