90min
·26 October 2024
90min
·26 October 2024
Exciting young talent Chido Obi-Martin added to the buzz around his potential as he scored a hat-trick on his full debut for Manchester United's Under-18s.
The teenager emerged as a target for the Red Devils after breaking academy records at Arsenal last season, managing an incredible total of 32 goals in 18 games. United then confirmed the deal in early October, with first-team coach Ruud van Nistelrooy reportedly playing a large role in convincing Obi-Martin to move to Old Trafford.
Obi-Martin, who earned viral fame after scoring ten goals in a clash with Liverpool last year, made a 27-minute cameo appearance against Sunderland last weekend but was handed a full debut by Adam Lawrence for Saturday's meeting with Nottingham Forest at Carrington.
The 16-year-old made a blistering start, bagging in just 13 seconds as he intercepted a loose pass, went around Forest goalkeeper Keehan Willows and tapped home.
Only four minutes later, Obi-Martin bagged his second with a driven effort before completing his treble with barely a quarter of an hour on the clock, with James Scanlon and Amir Ibragimov then making it 5-0 before half-time.
The second half was much calmer, with only Jim Thwaites' free-kick hitting the back of the net.
While there are huge hopes for Obi-Martin, he wasn't the only prodigious young talent United snapped up during the summer as they plan for the future. Promising Mali youth international midfielder Sekou Kone was tracked by some of Europe's biggest sides after leaving Guidars FC but eventually put pen to paper with the Red Devils.
He is yet to make his academy debut, having been ineligible to play in any UEFA Youth League games, and has been building up his fitness at Carrington.
View publisher imprintfeed