Kobbie Mainoo has been on the fringes for Manchester United this season and the England international midfielder has been linked with an exit during the January transfer window
Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo has simply not done enough to warrant a starting spot this season, according to former Premier League midfielder Dan Gosling. The 20-year-old has seen his hopes of a World Cup call-up fade after falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim, leading to suggestions he might need to leave Old Trafford in January.
Mainoo has played a little over 200 minutes in the Premier League this season, with Amorim seemingly believing he doesn’t have the qualities to play in a double pivot in his 3-4-2-1 system. The academy graduate’s only start this term came in the Carabao Cup, where he played the full 90 minutes in a shock defeat to Grimsby Town.
“He should stay and fight for his place,” Gosling said on Sky Sports’ Transfer Show. “You’re at Manchester United. It’s too easy for players to leave United right now. Everyone wants to leave to better run clubs. No, you’re at Manchester United. Do a job.
“He’s obviously not doing enough on the training pitch because Ruben Amorim isn’t not picking him because of his personality or other personnel. He’s not doing enough on the training pitch to deserve his place. It’s simple as that. If you’re not working as hard as you can day in and day out you’re not going to play. Yes, there’s competition for [Bruno] Fernandes. But there’s other spots.
“There’s Casemiro’s spot. He was out of the spot and he’s knuckled down, his performances have gotten better. His physique has gotten better. I still don’t think he’s the answer and Mainoo can compete with him. He can also play higher up. He’s obviously not doing enough on a day-to-day basis to convince Ruben Amorim.”
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Mainoo looked like he might get a chance to impress on Sunday after playing half an hour in the 4-4 draw with Bournemouth a few days earlier. Casemiro’s suspension meant there was a vacancy in the middle of the park, but Mainoo picked up an injury in training and missed the game.
That meant Manuel Ugarte partnered Fernandes in the middle, but the Uruguayan didn’t cover himself in glory in a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa. Furthermore, Fernandes only managed 45 minutes due to injury and will be assessed before United play Newcastle on Boxing Day.
Napoli are among the clubs linked with Mainoo, with an injury to summer signing Kevin De Bruyne leaving them in need of midfield reinforcements. However, United were unlikely to sanction an early January move even before Fernandes’ injury.
United are not expected to sanction any exits before their three players involved at the Africa Cup of Nations return to club duty. Noussair Mazraoui’s Morocco team began with a 2-0 victory over Comoros, while Bryan Mbeumo and Amad will both play their first game of the tournament on Christmas Eve, for Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire respectively.
“After training, he went to the doctor. He got something in his calf,” Amorim said when asked about Mainoo’s absence at Villa Park. “We are going to assess but he is out of this game.
“Of course [it is bad timing], not just for the team but for him to have this problem. These are reminders that we need to focus on everything we can control and leave the rest to the destiny.
“He is going to be fine in the few weeks, I think, I don’t know. Let’s focus on the players that we have and are ready to play.”
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