Who is Godwill Kukonki? Ruben Amorim includes 16-year-old star in first Man Utd squad today

Ruben Amorim is set to include 16-year-old Godwill Kukonki in his first ever Manchester United squad against Ipswich Town this afternoon.

The Portuguese head coach takes the reins for the first time today having had almost a full week to work with his players at Carrington.

With many of those only returning from international duty on Wednesday and Thursday however, Amorim had the chance to take a closer look at some of United’s young stars with centre-half Kukoni the latest to make the jump to the senior set-up.

Amorim is expected to implement a 3-4-3 formation at Old Trafford, testing out that system for the first time with his new squad in training this week.

While Matthijs de Ligt was away with the Netherlands squad and with Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire carrying knocks, Kukonki was part of the first-team group in training, playing in that new system.

It would appear he has instantly impressed his new boss with the teenager set to be rewarded with a place in the squad taking on Ipswich at Portman Road this afternoon.

Who is Godwill Kukonki?

Kukonki is a left-footed centre-half who has already shown to be a versatile option across the backline, also filling in at left-back.

While he recently made the Under-21s squad, the teenager has shone for the Under-18s this term, playing eight out of nine games for a side still to drop points in the league this term having also kept seven clean sheets in that run.

Given his versatility and physical attributes, there have been early comparisons with Manchester City star Josko Gvardiol.

Despite his tender years, Kukonki stands at a towering 6ft 5ins. Being a natural left-footer, he is an interesting option Amorim may consider going forward in that back three system with Martinez the only option fitting that particular bill at the moment.

Luke Shaw, still to play this season, did fill in on the left of that back three in training this week and has impressed in a centre-half role in previous seasons. There is a case for him being shifted inside under the new manager going forward when he returns to full fitness.

Will Godwill Kukonki play against Ipswich?

It would a huge occasion, but barring an injury crisis, It seems unlikely. Handing a 16-year-old his senior debut in your very first Premier League game would represent a very bold move for Amorim. But he has not hesitated to place his faith in youth in the past.

During his years at Sporting, Amorim handed debuts to nine teenagers, including Geovany Quenda in September with the 17-year-old swiftly becoming an important first-team player.

‘You need young guys, guys from the Academy for everything,’ Amorim told a press conference this week when asked how he intends to use United’s young talent at his disposal.

‘To bring that history to the club…. because they feel the club in a different way. But also because you have all these rules about financial fair play, you have all these players from our academy, is so much different from the players we bought and sell. Everything is connected, I will try help all the players, especially the young ones.’