CHIDO OBI has not got a kick for the Manchester United first team yet this season and was kicking his heels on the bench for the Under 21s.
In a rare midweek match at Old Trafford this season, Obi was an unused substitute in the 2-1 Premier League International Cup win over Athletic Bilbao.
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The hundreds of supporters who clicked through the turnstiles will have hoped to have seen Obi but were treated to crowd-pleasing cameos from fellow forwards Gabriele Biancheri, Shea Lacey and Amir Ibragimov.
Obi, still 17, briefly removed United from his Instagram bio earlier this month, interpreted by fans as unhappiness over a lack of first-team exposure.
Obi had started and scored in his three starts for the U21s prior to his benching, most recently at Liverpool on Sunday.
U21 coach Travis Binnion claimed his bench status was rotational in a period of five games in 13 days.
Obi is more likely to be there than Brentford, the scene of his only senior start in May. His rawness in eight appearances last season made his current fringe status inevitable under Ruben Amorim.
With tickets hiked to £5 for children and £10 for adults – a 233% rise on prices last season – a few hundred fans dripped through the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand.
With the first team back in training on Tuesday, no squad members dropped down for playing time.
Teenage left back Diego Leon started at Liverpool but had a night off and £18.2million ‘keeper Senne Lammens is still waiting for his maiden United appearance.
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Darren Fletcher and his wife were in the directors’ box to watch son Jack. The England youth international, an attacking midfielder, chased shadows as an auxiliary left-back but showed his class with a deft turn when he returned to midfield.
James Scanlon and Jayce Fitzgerald vented at each other. “F***ing keep the ball,” roared centre half Rhys Bennett. Binnion initiated the inquest after Asier Hierro’s delicately struck free kick on 12minutes.
Jayce Fitzgerald, briefly promoted to the bench by former caretaker Ruud van Nistelrooy for two games last season, was slick and Bendito Mantato was the brightest of a turgid attack until he had to fill in at left-back. Striker Victor Musa was visibly frustrated.
Obi warmed up a couple of times in the first half amid Athletic’s sheer dominance.
Four substitutes were summoned on the hour. Obi raced back to the dugout, hurtled up the stairs and wrapped himself in a tracksuit top.
Biancheri embarked on a spirited charge and squared for Scanlon to equalise.
Biancheri ought to have claimed the 93rd-minute winner but his close-range shot struck the post and bounced in off goalkeeper Iker Galindo.
Fellow subs Ibragimov and Lacey also brought fans to the edge of their seats. Obi stayed sat in his.
