Man United youngster of Nigerian decent, Chido Obi-Martin changes name
As Manchester United dream of fighting their way back to the top of the Premier League table, Carlisle United are dreaming of just being able to preserve their Football League status.
Exactly 20 years since they last played non-league football, the Cumbrians are in a race against the clock to avoid being back in that position again. They are currently rock-bottom of League Two, six points from safety.
But in an attempt to avoid the drop, the Brunton Park outfit recently appointed former United and Wales striker Mark Hughes as their new head coach, tasking him with the objective of keeping them in the Football League. He replaced former Newcastle United defender Mike Williamson, who was sacked earlier this month after just 25 games in charge.
Inheriting a squad devoid of confidence having won just five league games all season, Hughes has his work cut out. His first two games in charge have resulted in slender defeats to Grimsby Town (1-2) and Newport County (0-1) respectively.
However, Hughes is experienced enough to know that situations can change quickly in football. He has both played and managed at the highest level, with six of his eight managerial jobs in club football coming in the Premier League.
As a player, the Welshman, 61, spent time at some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea. But it was at Old Trafford where he enjoyed the best of his career, scoring 163 goals in 467 games across two spells.
Hughes was one of the most iconic players of his generation, winning 11 major honours during his United career, including the club’s first two Premier League titles in 1993 and 1994. He chipped in with 27 goals to help United win those back-to-back league titles.
A seasoned goalscorer in his day, United will now be hoping Hughes can teach a thing or two to Joe Hugill. The Reds youngster is currently on loan at Carlisle after he joined the club in the January transfer window.
The League Two side landed the United academy graduate after his season-long loan stint at Wigan Athletic was cut short. He returned to Carrington in early-January as a result of the Latics making a ‘budget-related decision’.
Joe Hugill competes with an opponent for possession.
Joe Hugill faced Carlisle United in the FA Cup with Wigan Athletic earlier in the season.
Hugill, 21, had a solid stint with the 2013 FA Cup winners, scoring five goals in 18 games. Wigan wanted to keep him for the rest of the season but they could only afford to have two No.9s in their squad.
Since moving to Carlisle until the end of the campaign, the Durham-born striker has made six appearances, scoring one goal. He opened his account in the 5-1 home defeat to Swindon Town that marked Williamson’s final game in charge.
Praising Hugill days before his final game in charge, Williamson said: “He’s here just because he wants to play minutes and put the ball in the back of the net – that’s why we brought him in and I’ve got no doubt he’ll do that. He brings a lot of value, and ultimately he will bring goals because of his quality.”
Since Willimson’s departure and Hughes’ appointment, Hugill has started both of the former United forward’s first two games in charge. Despite not scoring, his performances have been encouraging, offering hope that he will soon start to make his mark under the gaze of one of United’s most famous forwards.
The former Sunderland youngster has aspirations of becoming a household name at Old Trafford himself, admitting during his time at Wigan that it is his dream to lead United’s attack.
He told the Manchester Evening News earlier this season: “[Alejandro] Garnacho, Kobbie [Mainoo], that’s what everyone wants to be doing and to be United’s number nine is every young lad’s dream.
Joe Hugill and Alejandro Garnacho celebrate after a Manchester United victory in the FA Youth Cup at Old Trafford.
Joe Hugill played with Alejandro Garnacho (left) in the 2022 FA Youth Cup success.
“I always back myself 100 per cent. Always 100 per cent going for something.”
Currently playing for the Football League’s bottom club, Hugill faces a steep uphill challenge if he is to position himself at the summit of Ruben Amorim’s pecking order. United want to sign a proven goalscorer in the summer and supporters are already applying pressure in the hope of seeing Chido Obi-Martin get his first-team debut before too long.
But getting the opportunity to spend a few months working day-in, day-out with a former striker as talented and prolific as Hughes, who knows what it takes to make the grade at United, it ought to stand Hugill in good stead. And the Welshman is not the only former United striker the 21-year-old has had the opportunity to work with this season, of course.
Prior to joining Wigan in July, Hugill had spent time training with the United first-team, meaning he got the chance to work closely with Ruud van Nistelrooy, who returned to Old Trafford last summer as part of the club’s decision to revamp former manager Erik ten Hag’s first-team coaching setup.
“We did position specific on the pitch,” Hugill said of Van Nistelrooy’s training sessions. “A lot of the 8s running on, creating opportunities for the 9s with the crosses, different types of crosses coming into the box, where he wants the 9s to be. He did his own drills to help the forward players out.”
Few players will be able to say they have had the privilege of being schooled by two former strikers as decorated as Van Nistelrooy and Hughes before they have turned 22. That, however, offers Hugill no guarantee he will follow in their footsteps and make the grade at Old Trafford himself. Nevertheless, Hugill cannot be knocked for having ambition.
First, though, he needs to score the goals Carlisle need to keep them in the Football League.
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