Why Chido Obi-Martin has been named in Man Utd squad vs Bilbao despite Europa League ban

Manchester United wonderkid will NOT play vs Athletic Bilbao despite being named in the Red Devils’ travelling squad. unveiled a 26-man squad for the trip to Spain for the first leg of their semi-final.

A number of familiar faces were unsurprisingly included by as he attempts to plot a route through to the final. But there were a few that stood out, namely youngster Chido Obi-Martin.

The striker, , will join his United teammates in Spain but will be unable to play. That is because he was left out of the club’s squad for the knockout rounds, meaning he is ineligible to take to the pitch.

Obi-Martin is also not able to be named on the B list usually reserved youth players having only signed for the club last year. And United have confirmed that they want the youngster to take part in a training session on Friday after the game, hence why he has travelled to Spain.

Fellow signing Sekou Kone is in a similar situation. Speaking earlier this season, Amorim explained that Obi-Martin’s omission was an attempt to ease him into first-team action at Old Trafford, while there was plenty of competition for the central attacking role.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

"A different context," the Portuguese coach explained. "In that moment, Ras (Hojlund) and Josh (Zirkzee) playing in same position, try to manage all the things, even expectation of the kids. We choose different players."

He added: "I am trying to manage everything, it is a big step for them. I am trying to think about every aspect. I am not thinking about what it will look like with their friends and the media."

Obi-Martin, 17, signed for United after a prolific spell within ’s academy. And he has continued his goalscoring exploits in Manchester with 14 goals in 15 appearances across both the under-18 and under-21 age groups.

What side should United select vs Bilbao?

His form has been good enough to see him rewarded with opportunities in the first-team having made six outings for United this term, five of them in the .

Away from the young forward, there were also a few more welcome additions to United’s squad vs Bilbao, with both

Following the first-leg against the Spanish side, United then have another Premier League game to navigate as they travel to Brentford at the weekend before the decisive second-leg at Old Trafford.

and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our