![Compassionate solutions for food allergies in air travel [PODCAST]](https://kevinmd.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Podcast-by-KevinMD-WideScreen-3000-px-2-scaled.jpg)
Andy Cole gives cautious verdict on ‘raw’ Man Utd starlet Chido Obi
The 17-year-old is pushing hard for a starting role.
Manchester United legend Andy Cole believes youngster Chido Obi ‘has a chance’ of making it at Old Trafford.
Obi, 17, joined United from Arsenal last year and has been in prolific form for the club’s Under-18s with 12 goals in nine appearances.
The Danish youth international has come off the bench for the senior side in the last three games, replacing the misfiring Rasmus Hojlund in Sunday’s FA Cup clash against Fulham.
Obi gave Calvin Bassey problems and produced his side’s best chance to win the game in injury time only to be denied by a wonder save by Bernd Leno with United eventually crashing out on penalties.
Hojlund has not scored I 18 games with Joshua Zirkzee scoring just once since early December.
Get personalised updates on your club every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
While Obi is not eligible to play against Real Sociedad in United’s Europa League ties against the La Liga outfit, they are growing calls for him to be handed a starting role.
Former England stars Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney were among those singing the teenager’s praises following Sunday’s cameo.
Treble winner Cole has now given his verdict on the club’s young talent.
Cole told Rio Ferdinand on Rio Presents: ‘When you’re raw and you’re 17, you have no fear. I looked at him yesterday… He’s definitely got a chance.
‘My nephew worked with him and my nephew said: ‘Yeah man, he’s got a chance’.
Ferdinand added: ‘He’s still rough around the edges and he should be. But what I don’t have any fear about is that he will get chances.
‘Because I watched him play against my two boys and the way he played yesterday was exactly the same. He’s not in the game but the ball falls and he’s there’.
Premier League legend Shearer, on commentary duty as United were dumped out of the FA Cup on Sunday, hailed the youngster for outshining Hojlund during the little time he was on the pitch, insisting he is a ‘different option’ for Amorim.
‘He’s been a real handful in there you know,’ said Shearer.
‘He’s certainly offered a lot more than Hojlund has when he was on the pitch. He’s been a nuisance and tough to play against.
‘I like what I see from Obi, I really do. He’s certainly given them a different option to play with.’
Obi will not feature this week or next in ties against Real Sociedad.
United host his former club Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday.
