Ruben Amorim can cement his legacy at Man Utd by handing one maiden start vs Ipswich

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Manchester United face perhaps the most important league fixture of their season up next when Ipswich come to Old Trafford.

What would have been a regular game against a bottom-of-the-table team at the start of the season is now a genuine must-win game to end fears of a relegation battle.

Man Utd are unlikely to get relegated anyway but with a daunting fixture list ahead and the team not looking convincing in any game, they need to take three points and distance themselves from the relegating-threatened pack.

For that to happen, Ruben Amorim needs to create his own “Kobbie Mainoo” like Erik ten Hag by handing a maiden start vs Ipswich.

Ruben Amorim’s “Kobbie Mainoo” is Chido Obi

Erik ten Hag might have struggled near the end at Old Trafford which has tarnished his legacy a bit overall, but in Kobbie Mainoo, he will always have a player who represents the best of his management at the club.

Alejandro Garnacho is the same and as long as those two players keep thriving for United, Ten Hag’s legacy will remain intact at United.

For Ruben Amorim, a chance like that hasn’t appeared so far because he’s had to rotate among the senior team often as he imparts his philosophy. Until now.

Ipswich at home is the perfect game to hand 17-year-old towering striker Chido Obi his first start for the senior team after a couple of cameos.

Chido Obi got his first minutes against Spurs and improved upon those with a 20-minute cameo against Everton where he looked better than Rasmus Hojlund had, admittedly not a high bar to clear.

That is all the more reason to throw the dice on Chido Obi because it really can’t get any worse and against a team that United will be expected to dominate possession, the fixture couldn’t be any better.

Rasmus Hojlund needs competition

With Joshua Zirkzee firmly entrenched as an advanced midfielder instead of a striker now, Rasmus Hojlund remains the only natural striker in the first team.

Hojlund’s struggles reached a new low vs Everton and the need of the hour is to take him out of the firing line, even if that means rotating him with a 17-year-old.

The Premier League season is a write-off at this point, another factor contributing to why Amorim needs to start trusting youngsters.

Hojlund might or might not have a long-term future at the club pushing him to play through a bad run of form at his age is clearly proving to be counterproductive.

The excitement of the unknown in Chido Obi can help alleviate some of that pressure and if he impresses, can push both to be even better.

Ten Hag had Mainoo, Solskjaer had Greenwood, Mourinho had McTominay, Van Gaal had Rashford. Amorim can have Chido Obi.