Andy Cole shares verdict on Chido Obi amid Man Utd breakthrough, Rio Ferdinand instantly agrees

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Manchester United have one major silver lining to the current situation and that is the emergence of Chido Obi.

Sunday evening played out similarly to recent weeks for the blunt Red Devils attack.

Ruben Amorim’s first-choice number nine, Rasmus Hojlund, has failed to score in 18 games. The latest was a frustrating display against Fulham, in which the 17-year-old prodigy replaced him.

Chido Obi came off the bench in the 68th minute and looked twice the player almost immediately. Obi had three big chances in 52 minutes against Fulham, equalling Hojlund’s 22 league game total.

Obi outperformed Hojlund for Manchester United in several areas, but most impressively he created chances for himself, won more duels and took shots – coming ever so close to scoring with one.

• READ MORE: Who is Rio Ferdinand? Age, Height, Wife, Children, Net Worth

Andy Cole and Rio Ferdinand agree on Chido Obi chances

It was clear after Obi’s performance for United on Sunday that if he is given time on the pitch, goals will follow. He was denied his first senior goal by Bernd Leno, as he beat three Fulham defenders to the ball before angling onto his right foot to shoot.

It was an impressive cameo, and there is still so much more to come. Obi is now being tipped to start for United against Arsenal, which is a testament to how poor Hojlund has been that the teenager is being thrown in at the deep end.

But two former United players Andy Cole and Rio Ferdinand have quietly admitted their excitement over Obi while speaking together on Rio Ferdinand Presents.

“When you’re raw and you’re 17, you have no fear”, Cole explained. “I looked at him yesterday. He’s definitely got a chance. My Nephew worked with him and he said ‘Uncs… yeah man he’s got a chance”.

Ferdinand then added, “He’s still rough around the edges.” Cole then commented that this is expected before Ferdinand continued.

“As 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 the exact same.

“He’s not in the game, [but when] the ball falls, he’s there.”

• READ: Who is Chido Obi? Wonderkid who has left Arsenal to join Manchester United move

Chido Obi looks close to a sure thing for Manchester United

Despite only appearing three times for United’s senior side, the signs are resoundingly positive for Obi.

In every appearance to date, he has been a threat, at the very least showing more than 22-year-old Hojlund, and against Fulham, this was also the case.

Chido Obi stats for Manchester United vs Fulham

Unlike Hojlund, Obi looks likely to score, and he puts himself in positions to do so. This suggests that goals will come with time, as we know how good he is at finishing.

No player at 17 is a sure thing, but Obi appears pretty close to being one as he has immediately looked right at home against Premier League opposition.

Now the big question is will he appear against his former side Arsenal?