Summer signing Chido Obi-Martin marked his first start for Manchester United’s Under-18s by bagging a brilliant hat-trick within the opening 15 minutes against Nottingham Forest.
United hosted Forest at Carrington on Saturday afternoon.
Obi-Martin is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in his age group and emerged as a top talent at Arsenal.
Last term, he managed a mind-boggling 32 goals in 24 appearances at youth level for the Gunners and even trained with the first team.
He once scored 10 goals in a single game against Liverpool for Arsenal’s Under-16s. The Gunners made several attempts to try and keep Obi-Martin at the Emirates but he turned them down in favour of signing for United
The teenager made his first appearance for United’s Under-18 side last week when he came on from the bench in a 4-3 win against Sunderland.
There was a lot of excitement when he was included in the starting XI for the meeting with Forest and he certainly didn’t disappoint the fans.
Our U18s starting XI is here
You can watch the #U18PL game live on #MUTV, with kick-off at 12:00 BST #MUFC || #MUAcademy
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 26, 2024
Obi-Martin put the Red Devils ahead with just 13 seconds on the clock, pouncing on a poor back-pass before rounding the Forest goalkeeper and guiding the ball into the back of an empty net.
Four minutes later, Obi-Martin was at it again, this time drilling home a shot into the bottom corner after the visitors failed to clear their lines.
He completed his hat-trick at the quarter-hour mark, as he latched onto a superb cross from James Scanlon and produced an excellent finish from just outside the penalty area.
Chido Obi-Martin
James Scanlon
Amir Ibragimov
A dominant and clinical display so far — Watch our #U18PL second-half live on #MUTV #MUFC || #MUAcademy
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 26, 2024
Earlier this week, it emerged that staff at Old Trafford expected Obi-Martin to make the jump to the Under-21 level in next to no time and he’s certainly proving them right.
Obi-Martin was substituted at half-time against Forest, but his memorable full debut for United is one he’ll undoubtedly never forget.
The post Chido Obi-Martin bags sensational 15-minute hat-trick on first Man United start since joining from Arsenal appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.