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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Joe Bray

'My versatility is unique' - Meet the forward hoping to fire Man City into FA Youth Cup final vs Arsenal

It's not just Erling Haaland banging in the goals every game for Manchester City.

Two steps below the star-studded first team, under-18 forward Justin Oboavwoduo is on a run of scoring in each of his last nine starts for the Blues at youth level. In his last 10 games, the local lad has 14 goals and two assists, and is averaging a goal or assist every 96 minutes this season.

However, don't make the mistake of comparing him to Haaland or anyone else. In his own words, the confident Oboavwoduo is unique. "I think I'm rather unique due to the amount of positions I play," the 16-year-old tells MEN Sport.

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"I'd like to class myself as someone who can score goals, create chances for others as well. One that's got good runs in behind, creates good chances for myself or another striker or playing on the wing. I'm very versatile, you've seen that in the FA Youth Cup I've played right wing, as an eight, as a ten, and a nine where I play a lot in the league. I'm a versatile player who can create and score goals.

"I don't really model myself off one player. Moreso I take little bits off top players. If I'm in midfield I look at Kevin De Bruyne who's obviously a world-class player, or Luka Modric. If I need to be on it defensively I look at good all-round midfielders. If I'm playing at nine I look at the movement of Haaland. Prepping myself before the game, I don't really base myself on one because I think all players are quite unique in the way they play.

"It makes me more selectable as well. Players sometimes want a position where they know they're nailed down to it. I don't see it as a disadvantage myself, you look at the first team and see Phil Foden who can play wide left and in midfield and false nine. It's an added advantage, especially if you want to push on from 18s to 21s and potentially first team."

That's some confidence from a teenager in just his first year as an under-18 player, but Oboavwoduo has every right to be feeling top of the world at present due to his form. He speaks better than some of City's senior players, and is fully aware that there is always room for improvement.

In fact, when asked about what has sparked his eye-catching form, Oboawvoduo says he sought help from under-18s boss Ben Wilkinson and the academy coaches to address what he felt was a dip in form.

"I've been challenged from the club to put in consistent performances," he explains. "Of late I've risen to that challenge. Past Christmas, you've seen a good run and the competitions we're in - good performances can lead to us winning these competitions. It was a moment after Christmas as a collective we had to step up.

"You see the current run of form where we've gone a lengthy time unbeaten and winning games comfortably. That was the shift in focus and mentality. We're even training better and it's more intense and competitive which helps in that aspect.

"I had a chat with the gaffer about my form. My form dipped before Christmas, I needed to look at myself internally see what's going on. With analysis with coaching staff we've seen areas I can improve and it's been for the betterment of myself and the team. I'm in a good moment now. It was a good conversation, a tough one. One that had to be had. But we're in a good moment now.

"We spoke about scoring goals, movements in the box, getting into the right areas, being more confident in front of goal. To really believe in the ability I have. That was one of the main things, and obviously putting it in every day in training. Doing everything right so when I come to the game it's not new to me. The shift in mentality is coming to fruition in the last couple of months."

Oboavwoduo and his coaches will hope that the forward continues his form - wherever he plays - on Tuesday night in the FA Youth Cup semi-final away at Arsenal, in front of a big crowd at the Emirates Stadium.

He says it will be the biggest game in the careers of most of the young squad who will travel south, and points to the UEFA Youth League defeat at Hajduk Split in front of 15,000 noisy supporters as a useful learning curve that can be built on at the Emirates.

"The Youth Cup as a collective at City we've not won for a couple of years," Oboavwoduo says. "Looking at other clubs like Man United they've won it many times more than us. The amount of illustrious names that have competed in it and won it, we have that desire to be among them, and the great players who've gone on to win the Youth Cup and have successful careers.

"The competition is one we're really looking forward to it, being in the semi-final gives us great pride but we're not content with just being in the semi-final. We want to push on, get to the final, and hopefully win it."

Oboavwoduo has four goals in three Youth Cup appearances this season, including a hat-trick against Fleetwood in the fifth round. He will fancy his chances of extending that scoring run in the biggest test of his youthful career when City rock up at Arsenal.

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