Exclusive:Man Utd handed huge Chido Obi blow ahead of Real Sociedad Europa League fixture
Man Utd face Real Sociedad in the Europa League last 16 this week and here is the early team news.
Manchester United will not be able to select Chido Obi in their Europa League campaign for the remainder of the season after he was not included in their revised squad list for the competition. United travel to face Real Sociedad in the first leg of their last 16 tie later this week.
The 17-year-old impressed from the bench as United were knocked out of the FA Cup by Fulham over the weekend, with a performance that suggested he was ready for further first-team opportunities. Obi created three big chances during his time on the pitch and could have won the tie for United when he prodded wide of goal with the final kick of normal time and also saw a decent effort saved by Bernd Leno in extra-time. The teenage forward did not take a penalty in the subsequent penalty shootout as Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee both had efforts saved.
There have been many calls from United supporters for Obi to get further minutes when they travel to face Real Sociedad in the Europa League this week, but the teenage striker will not be allowed to feature in the match.
Chido Obi ruled out of Europa League campaign
Chido Obi was not registered as a Manchester United player when they submitted their initial squad list for the Europa League back in September and was not included in the revised squad list last month.
Every team left in the Europa League was permitted to register three new eligible A list players by 24:00 CET on Thursday 6 February. United added January signings Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven to their squad for the remainder of the competition but did not register Chido Obi as he was not considered a first-team option at that moment in time. Obi did not make his United debut until 16 February amid an ongoing injury crisis that left Ruben Amorim without nine senior players against Fulham.
Due to his age, it is easy to presume the 17-year-old could simply be added to the B-List that effectively allows an unlimited amount of youngsters to be added to the squad before each matchday. However, Uefa rules state that only 'club-trained players born on or after 1 January 2003, who have been with their employers for an uninterrupted period of a minimum of two years, are allowed to be considered for selection' on the B-List. Obi is therefore not eligible to feature on the B-List due to the fact he only joined the club from Arsenal last season.