What Chido Obi did before and after his winning goal is what Manchester United need from a striker

Leading the line for Manchester United is such an unappealing and onerous task that a City reject has rejected them. A United striker finally emerged as their matchwinner in Hong Kong.

Chido Obi, the more frugal and callow Danish striker signing by United, clinically claimed his maiden goal for the first team. Obi replaced Rasmus Hojlund at half-time and took five minutes to crash the ball into the net. And crash the WiFi.

Liam Delap’s decision to join Chelsea over United is merely a stay of execution for Hojlund. United need a proven goalscorer, not one born four days after Hojlund and jettisoned by City’s academy to a promoted team who Jason Wilcox watched develop. United tried to cut corners with Delap’s release clause when they need a proven commodity.

Obi is not ready for competitive matches but his goals will do him no harm. Just as impressive as his equalising strike was his reaction. He eschewed celebrations in favour of fishing the ball out of the net.

The 17-year-old ought to have converted with one header and the next time he rose to meet the ball he glanced it into the corner. With fan favourites long since substituted, the crowd in the Hong Kong Stadium switched their affections to Obi.

Obi was still pressing intensely in added time. One of United staff’s bugbears with Hojlund is they reckon he does not exert himself enough. Obi applied himself as though he sensed an opportunity. His tour ended with a man of the match award.

His winning goal fuelled such optimism that there was a rendition of “Glory glory Man United” from the Hong Kong crowd. Whoever United’s starting striker is next season, Obi has had enough time around the first team to at least remain involved in that set-up for what will be a sparser