Young Hornets striker Ogo Obi deserved the chance to try to earn himself a contract at Premier League side Manchester United this summer, according to Watford academy’s head of coaching Barry Quin.

Obi has been with the Golden Boys since the Under-11 age group but the 16-year-old striker spent several weeks with the Red Devils in an attempt to earn a deal and scored three goals in four matches to help United lift the Milk Cup Premier title whilst on trial.

However, the Manchester club seemingly decided against offering him a contract and he returned to Watford.

The striker then penned a two-year scholarship with the Golden Boys, with the agreement of a third year as a professional attached, earlier this month.

Obi featured as a second-half substitute in Watford’s Under-21 Premier League Cup victory over Peterborough United on Tuesday and speaking after that game, Quin said: “What we’ve got to remember is he’s been here a long time, longer than I have. He’s come through the school and is an academy product.

“If he had the opportunity to see if he could do better elsewhere, then you’ve got to allow someone to do that.

“But he’s back and in the fold and it’s a bonus for us, that’s how I’m looking at it. I don’t look at the fact he was at Manchester United for a little spell, I look at the fact he is another academy product.”