Chido Obi is doing what Ruben Amorim wants for Manchester United's academy

Man Utd U21s won 2-0 against Rochdale in the National League Cup with Chido Obi scoring the matchwinner.

Chido Obi nonchalantly celebrated after scoring against Rochdale on Tuesday night.

Rochdale attempted to play out from the back, Jim Thwaites won the ball and Obi reacted quickly to finish intelligently in the box, firing Manchester United's Under-21s into an early lead.

Obi didn't show any emotion as he glared at the home fans at the Crown Oil Arena. The youngster was all business because scoring academy goals is second nature to him. They are as often as hot dinners.

There was a minute's silence held before the game after the passing of Rhys Bennett's father. The players wore black armbands as a mark of respect and Bennett watched from the terraces with his family.

Bennett has been granted compassionate leave and United are offering pastoral care to the youngster.

The U21s began their National League Cup campaign against Tamworth in August. That game was abandoned after a Sekou Kone head injury, and Travis Binnion's side lost against Brackley in September.

United needed to bounce back in the competition against Rochdale, who had made wholesale changes to their team due to their focus on securing promotion back to the Football League.

Obi was asked for a photograph by a young fan when he stepped off the coach. The 17-year-old made seven appearances in the Premier League last season but has exclusively played in academy fixtures this term.

United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup second round by Grimsby Town and there is no European football, so there are fewer first-team opportunities for academy prospects.

Obi must be patient and keep scoring goals for the U21s to earn the first-team involvement. He will force his way into the squad again by the end of the season if he continues to score at a rate of knots.

And although Obi opened the scoring within 10 minutes against Rochdale, it was Thwaites who was the standout performer, catching the eye in midfield with his dynamic range of passing.

Thwaites has a name fitting of a player from a bygone era. His technical ability on the ball would probably make him seem like an alien if he were teleported to the 1940s, though.

The Bolton-born lad only seems to have one setting: to pass the ball forward. He sprayed it around the pitch and slipped through Bendito Mantato down the right wing just before the interval.

Thwaites is a dead-ball specialist, which may help him progress to the first-team, as set-pieces have suddenly become fashionable again in the Premier League in the last 18 months.

United were value for their one-goal advantage by half-time. Rochdale had not threatened goalkeeper William Murdock between the sticks and Binnion would have been delighted with the performance.

Binnion recently spoke to the Manchester Evening News about Obi's development. The U21 boss stressed Obi must still improve aspects of his game and he was constantly passing on instructions during the match against Rochdale, encouraging the young forward into areas of the pitch.

Obi is a goal machine at academy level and his finishing prowess is impressive, but he needs to improve his out-of-possession work, his pressing and link-up play with his teammates.

Godwill Kukonki started for the U21s for the first time this season. Kukonki has been involved with first-team training sessions and acquitted himself well on the left side of central defence.

Diego Leon scored his first goal for United last weekend and he is gradually finding his feet after his summer move from Paraguay. Leon delivered another competent display before being replaced on the hour mark.

The U21s won 1-0 against Rochdale when they visited the Crown Oil Arena last year, and they went one better this time around thanks to a late goal from James Scanlon during injury time.

United thoroughly deserved the three points and are now up and running in the National League Cup

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