Manchester United youngster Godwill Kukonki has been approached to represent Congo’s international team.. Kukonki was named in a first-team squad for the first time against Arsenal on December 4, and Ruben Amorim said the youngster had “impressed” him and his maturity was noticeable.. The centre-back was born in England but could also represent Congo, which has led DR Congo’s national team representatives to approach Kukonki about his international future.. Kukonki is yet to be called up to an England youth squad and that could happen imminently, with Congo having made a proposal to the exciting youngster. Kukonki only celebrated his 17th birthday on Thursday and his progress has caught the attention of other Premier League clubs.. It’s understood Amorim assessed academy youngsters in his first training in November and Kukonki was the only prospect who made an impression on United’s head coach.. Kukonki was given a chance to travel with the first-team to Portman Road for Amorim’s first game in charge. Although Kukonki wasn’t officially in the squad, he didn’t have to wait long for his first matchday inclusion because he was named on the bench to face Arsenal in December.. That’s when Amorim praised Kukonki and said: “He’s 16, but he impressed me a lot, so it’s also a sign to the youth players that they can be here. If something happened with the first-team, they have to step up and I think he’s ready, he’s very adult to handle the Premier League’s demands.”. Subsequently, Kukonki has been named on the bench for Premier League games against Newcastle and Southampton, and he is a leading contender to make a first-team debut.. The Manchester Evening News reported in October that Kukonki was seen as a player who possesses the technical and physical qualities needed for senior football, and he trained with the first-team at Carrington for the first time under Amorim’s watchful eye just a few weeks later.. There have been comparisons made between Kukonki and Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol, as Kukonki is a naturally left-footed defender, which makes him a unique option.. Left-footed centre-backs are worth their weight in gold in modern football and United submitted multiple bids to Everton in the summer in an attempt to sign Jarrad Branthwaite.
