Manchester United youngster Godwill Kukonki has had a very busy month.
After Ruben Amorim started work at Manchester United, Godwill Kukonki quickly began to make a name for himself.
Kukonki featured in Amorim’s first training session, and was invited to stick around. Kukonki then travelled with the first team, named on the bench in the recent game at Arsenal.
Yet the young defender is only 16-years-old, and is still eligible to play in the FA Youth Cup. And that’s exactly what he did last night.
Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty ImagesGodwill Kukonki grabs assist
Godwill Kukonki was named on the bench for Manchester United’s under-18s for the FA Youth Cup fixture with Coventry.
This was likely for two reasons. Kukonki has not been part of the 18s set up over the past month, because he has been training with Ruben Amorim’s first team. So it made sense to utilise those who had been.
United were also probably trying to keep Kukonki hungry, and this was a reminder he can’t drop down and automatically reclaim his spot in a winning side.
Kukonki did get on in the second half, and played an impressive part in Manchester United’s 5-0 win.
The young defender provided the assist for Gabriele Biancheri to score his third goal of the night, and United’s fifth.
It came after a slick team move, with Kukonki powering into the penalty box. Faced with the onrushing goalkeeper, he simply passed across him, leaving Biancheri with a tap-in.
If United were challenging Kukonki, he rose to it. He played with a real determination when he came on, eager to play his part, in a game United had already won.
Ruben Amorim’s coaching staff will have been watching, and had a close eye on Kukonki, who looks at ease in training with the first team.
United ease to 5-0 victory
Manchester United’s FA Youth Cup win over Coventry was never in doubt, with Gabriele Biancheri scoring after just three minutes.
United were 3-0 up after 14 minutes, going on to win the game 5-0. Biancheri scored a hat-trick, and Chido Obi netted twice, including a free-kick.
Along with Kukonki, Jacob Devaney, Gabriele Biancheri and James Scanlon all provided assists.
United will face Preston in the next round, a game that will take place in January 2025.
Kukonki may still be involved, with United’s centre-back depth Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof returning from injuries.
But he is a player with a big future, strong in defence and capable of influencing the game in the final third, as he demonstrated once again.
Related Posts