Manchester United are preparing for a trip to Nottingham Forest tomorrow night, aiming to grab more points in the Premier League as the season starts to wrap up.
With only nine games left, we’re into the final quarter of the season as United fight for as many points as possible with a top-ten finish still mathematically in reach.
However, one man who’s unlikely to be on the bus for the trip to The City Ground is young striker Chido Obi.
The Danish wonderkid has incredible potential and has already grabbed his senior debut as he took to the field for a quick run out against Tottenham Hotspur in February.
Since then, Obi has come off the bench against Everton and Leicester in the Premier League and against Fulham as United were knocked out of the FA Cup.
However, the 17-year-old is now taking to the pitch tonight, making an appearance for United’s Under-18s side.
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Chido Obi to play in FA Youth Cup against Aston Villa
The Daily Mail has reported that Obi is set to play for the youth side in their FA Youth Cup semi-final against Aston Villa.
Already this season the talented striker has grabbed 12 goals and one assist in nine games for the Under-18s, hoping to continue his impressive form to take United to the next round.
Obi has scored in every round of the FA Youth Cup, with braces against Coventry and Preston, and a hattrick against Chelsea.
In the tournament, the youngster has only missed the match-up against his former team Arsenal due to sitting on the bench for the senior team against Ipswich and, coincidentally, Arsenal, either side of the youth team’s quarter-final game.
As such, Adam Lawrence will be hoping Obi can bring his shooting boots to Villa park to help the side into the final.
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Bruno Fernandes has long been Manchester United’s driving force on the pitch, but his leadership extends beyond matchdays.
United’s struggles have continued this season, currently sitting in bottom half of the Premier League table.
The club have seen numerous managers come and go over the years.
The team have lacked the quality, depth and balance to compete at the top.
Fernandes arrived at the club under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, where he has since seen plenty of managers depart.
The Portuguese has developed into the main leader of the dressing room, regularly showcasing his leadership qualities on-the-pitch.
However he has been working hard off-the-pitch, in attempt to lift spirits.
Confirmation of a team bonding session was reported by CentreDevils, earlier in February.
Bruno Fernandes at forefront of team bonding session
According to Chris Wheeler’s report for the Daily Mail, Fernandes personally organised and paid for a team bonding session on February 19, bringing players and staff together.
The evening began at Lane7 in Altrincham, where Fernandes and over 50 others enjoyed tenpin bowling, pool, and darts.
That was before heading to Brazilian restaurant Jardim Rodizio Grill, as per the Daily Mail’s report.
Fernandes acted as the night’s host, introducing teammates in the style of a talent show compere.
The 30-year-old encouraged new signings to take part in the traditional initiation songs.
January arrivals Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven were among those called up.
As well as summer signings Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte, and Noussair Mazraoui, who had missed out on the ritual during pre-season, as per the Daily Mail’s report.
The timing of the event was significant.
United had just suffered consecutive Premier League defeats to Crystal Palace and Tottenham.
Head coach Ruben Amorim had openly criticised the team, branding them one of the worst in the club’s history.
While morale among staff was low due to impending redundancies, as per the Daily Mail’s report.
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By bringing everyone together – including members of the physiotherapy, sports science, and travel departments – Fernandes hoped to foster a stronger sense of unity.
A club insider described the night as a success, noting that those involved “came away from it feeling closer than we thought,” as per the Daily Mail’s report.
However, just days later at Goodison Park, United’s struggles continued as they found themselves 2-0 down to Everton at half-time.
During the break, former Everton defender Derek Mountfield jokingly stuck out an elbow towards United’s players, but Fernandes, already frustrated, took issue with the gesture.
The exchange seemed to ignite him, as he responded with a stunning 25-yard free-kick to inspire a comeback that secured a point.
That goal sparked a remarkable run of form.
Fernandes has since scored seven times and assisted three in a seven-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.
His tally for the season now stands at 16 goals and 15 assists, placing him among United’s all-time greats in Premier League history.
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Manchester United are getting back into action after the March international break with a trip to The City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest on Tuesday 1st April 2025.
United are hoping to continue their unbeaten run following 1-1 draws against Arsenal and Real Sociedad and two strong wins against Real Sociedad and Leicester.
These two victories both booked their slot in the next round of the Europa League and took them to 13th in the Premier League as they now look ahead to face 3rd place Nottingham Forest.
A win against Forest could take The Red Devils up another spot in the league table, passing 12th place Crystal Palace, however with The Eagles travelling to face bottom-of the table Southampton, ints unlikely they’ll be leaving without three points.
However, three points for United would bring them only a point shy of Brentford who sit in 11th with 41 points and are travelling to take on sixth place Newcastle United.
For Ruben Amorim and his men, every game is vital now to achieve as high a finish as possible, with European qualification through the league looking significantly unlikely.
Aiding with this, Amorim’s received a huge boost with several of his injured stars now returning to the pitch.
So, who’s likely to take to the field for The Red Devils and who’s still not quite ready.
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Manchester United’s side to face Nottingham Forest
Image Credits: Getty Images
Thankfully, it looks as though most of Ruben Amorim’s routine starting eleven are available for their clash with Nottingham Forest.
Whilst Andre Onana has been questionable to say the least this season, the Cameroon international is still Amorim’s first choice.
Over recent weeks, the Portuguese manager has had to rely on youth keepers Dermot Mee and Ehly Harrison to provide cover on the bench. However, Altay Bayindir could very well be back in the fray to provide cover if needed, with his reason for absence still unknown.
As for defence, Amorim has recently revealed that Ayden Heaven, Jonny Evans and Luke Shaw are still ruled out, however Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro are now thankfully back in action and ready to play.
As such, we’re expecting Maguire to be back in the starting line up alongside Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, whilst Yoro returns to the bench, however is likely to make an appearance.
The wing-backs are fairly predictable with Diogo Dalot on the right, having made the most appearances this season out of all the United squad, with Patrick Dorgu on the left, having joined in the winter transfer window, instantly becoming the first choice left-wing-back.
However, United academy graduate Harry Amass has been proving himself of late, getting his long awaited senior debut against Leicester in United’s last outing, so we’re expecting him on the bench again to provide cover.
In the middle of the pitch, Bruno Fernandes has been dropped into a more central role in three of the last four games, including both wins, and with Manuel Ugarte fit to play, we could see this partnership come to be a solid pivot point for the United squad.
Just ahead of the pair, Alejandro Garnacho has recently reclaimed his starting spot, having made the same amount of appearances as Dalot this season with 45 games played. Alongside him it’s likely that Joshua Zirkzee will be in the attacking support role, with the 23-year-old now routinely playing just of the striker.
As for upfront, first-choice striker Rasmus Hojlund is expected to start, especially now that he’s ended his 21-game goal drought, scoring against Leicester and Portugal.
Rounding off the bench will be veteran midfielders Casemiro and Christian Eriksen who seem to be primarily used for injury cover now and youngster Toby Collyer who is still trying to break into the first squad.
One star that is likely to be missing from the bench is striker Chido Obi. The promising attacker is set to feature in the Under-18s side’s FA Youth Cup clash against Aston Villa as Adam Lawrence’s side tries to book their slot in the final. As such it’s unlikely that the 17-year-old will be playing two high pressure games in two days.
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Manchester United predicted line-up and missing players
Goalkeeper – Andre Onana
Left-wing-back – Patrick Dorgu
Centre-backs – Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui
The Acting Governor of Cross River, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for coming up with the Niger Delta Sports Festival to engage the youths and groom talents in the region.
Odey made the commendation when the local organizing committee chaired by Hon Agnes Atsu presented the Sports Festival torch to him in his temporary office in Calabar on Monday. The presentation of the torch signals the departure of Team Cross River to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, where they will participate in the sporting events billed for April.
Speaking while receiving the torch, the Acting Governor pledged the state government’s support to Cross River’s delegation. He urged them to see the Niger Delta Sports Festival as an opportunity to showcase their talents to the world.
The brief ceremony was witnessed by the Commissioner representing Cross River in the Niger Delta Development Commission, Rt. Hon. Orok Duke.
Meanwhile, speaking briefly in an interview shortly after the torch presentation ceremony, the NDDC state representative applauded the Managing Director of the Commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku for being passionate about youths in the Niger Delta.
He listed the Sports Festival, Youth Internship Scheme and several other initiatives the MD and the current management of NDDC have come up with to effectively engage and empower young people in the region.
He also thanked the state government for always keying into and supporting laudable initiatives of NDDC for the overall benefits of Cross River youths.
Manchester United wantaway is already enjoying life away from Old Trafford as he continues to perform on loan with Aston Villa.
Since arriving at Villa Park in January, Rashford has been instrumental in their attack, routinely linking up with Marcos Alonso.
Last night saw the attacker grab his first goal for The Villains as he scored a brace against Preston in the FA Cup, now registering two goals and four assists in 10 games since moving to Villa.
Rashford has not only claimed a spot in Unai Emery’s starting line-up but has also reclaimed his spot in the England squad under Thomas Tuchel.
The 27-year-old started in both of England’s world cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia as The Three Lions came out victorious in both matches.
Now, after Villa’s FA Cup win over Preston, Emery has commented about the club’s long-term decision regarding signing Rashford permanently.
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Unai Emery addresses Marcus Rashford future at Aston Villa
In the deal which saw Rashford go on loan from Manchester United to Aston Villa for the rest o the season, the clubs agreed to include an option to buy for £40 million.
However, when Emery was asked after the FA Cup clash if a decision has been made about the clause, he responded: “Not yet.”
The Aston Villa manager continued: “The most important thing is the challenge now and this afternoon, recovering and then preparing for the match against Brighton.
“A decision about each individual player, it is to get the best of them and the best of us. We don’t want to waste time thinking about it.”
However it seems to be that if Villa want him, Rashford would be happy for a permanent move.
Speaking to the BBC after the game, Rashford commented: “It’s a great feeling, I feel like I’ve been getting fitter and playing better football since I’ve been here.”
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Former Manchester United attacker Mason Greenwood has been lighting up Ligue 1 after his return to football last year.
The 23-year-old went on loan to LaLiga side Getafe for the second half of last season in a bid to kickstart his career once more.
Needless to say, the loan spell was successful with Greenwood winning the Getafe Player of the Season award, netting 10 goals and grabbing six assists in 36 games.
Now after a £30 million transfer to French side Marseille, the United academy graduate has continued his brilliant form for the Ligue 1 club.
In 29 games the attacker has scored 16 goals, with three assists, currently sitting in second place for the Ligue 1 Golden boot, only being PSG’s Ousmane Dembele.
However, L’Equipe have recently revealed the Englishman’s salary, claiming him to be one of the highest-paid stars in the league.
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Mason Greenwood revealed as one of Ligue 1’s highest earners
The report announced that Greenwood is currently earning around £375,000 (€450,000) per month, or £4.5 million (€5.4 million) per year.
Greenwood ranks in at joint 16th highest-paid alongside fellow Marseille teammates Geoffrey Kondogbia, Ismaël Bennacer, and Lyon star Corentin Tolisso.
However, Marseille’s highest earners are Adrien Rabiot and Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg who earn around £418,000 (€500,000) per month or £5 million (€6 million) per year.
Interestingly though, these pair don’t even make it into the league’s top ten, with the 12 highest paid players all coming from league leader PSG.
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Manchester United are preparing for their next Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest tomorrow night.
The Red Devils are desperate to get as many points as possible in their final nine games in a bid to finish in the top half of the table.
Thankfully for Ruben Amorim, the international break has given his side a chance to recover, with their injury list growing once again.
Now, speaking ahead of the Nottingham Forest game, Amorim gave a huge update on his current injury list.
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Ruben Amorim gives huge update on Manchester United injury list
The Portuguese manager commented: “Luke Shaw is not ready yet. We are starting doing some drills with the team but we are building Luke… it’s not time yet.”
Shaw has been ruled out of most of the last two seasons with various injuries, routinely getting close to returning or even making it back to the pitch for a couple of games before another injury strikes.
As such, this update isn’t overly surprising, nor is it much of a setback, with the club now used to operating without their former first-choice left-back.
However, in a more impactful update, Amorim confirmed that youngsters Kobbie Mainoo and Ayden Heaven are still not ready to feature against Forest.
The United manager commented: “I think Kobbie is almost returning also but not ready for this game. Jonny Evans is recovering, Ayden [Heaven] is recovering.”
So whilst they are not quite ready, it does indicate that the pair, as well as veteran defender Jonny Evans, are very close to a return.
The duo of Mainoo and Heaven being in the treatment room is definitely a bigger blow for Amorim, with the young midfielder being a key, albeit versatile, part of the United squad, playing in the centre of the pitch and being trialled in more attacking roles.
Meanwhile, Heaven, who signed in January, has already made his debut, providing cover for Lisandro Martinez who was ruled out of the rest of the season with a torn ACL.
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Football players, particularly those from prestigious clubs like Manchester United, often find themselves under intense scrutiny, both on and off the field.
From the media spotlight to the pressure of maintaining a public image, being in the public eye is part of the deal for top athletes.
However, this constant visibility can sometimes have a darker side, as seen in the case of Mason Greenwood, whose future at United has been clouded by off-field controversy.
Ryan Giggs, once a club legend, faced serious legal troubles that tarnished his reputation after retiring from football.
Cristiano Ronaldo was involved in off-field controversies during his career, including legal disputes that drew global attention.
Similar to Greenwood’s case, another United player, Brandon Williams, is now facing serious consequences for his actions, far removed from the pitch.
Brandon Williams, 24, who was once hailed as a promising full-back for Manchester United, now faces up to two years in prison after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.
The incident occurred on August 20, 2023, when Williams was driving an Audi A3 near Handforth, Cheshire, at speeds reaching up to 99mph, as per the Crown Prosecution Service with information relayed by BBC news.
Witnesses reported that the footballer was driving erratically, speeding up and braking sharply, which ultimately led to him losing control of the vehicle and crashing.
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Brandon Williams, who was injured in the crash, was treated in the hospital before being taken to custody.
At the time of the crash, Williams was out on loan at Ipswich Town, though he was still contracted to Manchester United.
Since then, the left-back has been released by the club, leaving him without a team as he prepares to face his sentencing on May 9, 2024.
Prosecutors have warned that dangerous driving carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison, though no serious injuries or fatalities resulted from the crash.
Williams’ fall from grace is stark, considering his earlier promise.
During the 2019/20 season, he earned praise from United’s former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who called him “brave as a lion” after a standout performance against Partizan Belgrade.
However, Williams’ off-field behaviour has been marked by controversy, including a history of traffic violations, with 30 penalty points accumulated and previous driving bans.
The incident has shocked his supporters, including those from his hometown of Harpurhey, Manchester, who still recall his promising footballing days.
One local described him as a “good little player,” while others expressed sympathy for the player’s family, particularly his mother, who runs a café in Harpurhey.
Despite the setback, Williams, who is now focused on his fitness, may still hope for a future in football, though his legal troubles could severely impact his career.
With his sentencing date approaching, the football community waits to see what consequences Williams will face for this reckless act, and whether he can find a way back to the sport he once thrived in.
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