It was after Manchester United’s first game against West Ham this season that Ruben Amorim let his guard slip regarding Kobbie Mainoo. United drew 1-1 with the struggling Hammers at Old Trafford in December. Mainoo remained on the bench throughout, and Amorim opted for Lisandro Martinez over Luke Shaw as a final attempt to find a winner.
“You always ask me the same thing,” Amorim told reporters when asked why the 20-year-old had not played. “I understand what you are saying. You love Kobbie. He starts for England, but that doesn’t mean I need to put him on when I feel I shouldn’t.”
The remark, “you love Kobbie,” sounded almost personal. Amorim used it to explain why media attention kept questioning Mainoo’s lack of minutes. Yet, the criticism misunderstood the situation. The media did not simply admire Mainoo—they had seen the impact he could bring to a team.
Judging by the 25,000 likes on a social media post during United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham, fans clearly agreed. With each passing game, Amorim’s reluctance to play Mainoo seemed increasingly questionable. Supporters also struggled to understand why the academy-raised midfielder had not started a single Premier League match before Amorim’s departure.
Mainoo’s Return to Action
Darren Fletcher, Amorim’s initial replacement, brought Mainoo on for the final 16 minutes in the Burnley draw last month. Fletcher abandoned the three-man central defense to allow an extra midfielder. Mainoo then started the FA Cup tie against Brighton and retained his place for all four games under Michael Carrick’s brief management.
Against Tottenham, Mainoo created Bryan Mbeumo’s opener with a precise pass from the edge of the penalty area. He dashed across the goal to meet Bruno Fernandes’ short corner and delivered the ball with the inside of his right foot. “Yes, there’s no doubt,” Carrick said after the match, confirming Mainoo had returned to the level of his breakthrough 2023-24 season, when he scored in the FA Cup final and started for England in the Euros final against Spain.
The Value Beyond Goals
Some observers still fail to see his impact. On paper, seven goals and five assists in 90 first-team appearances do not appear impressive. Yet that misses the point. Mainoo excels in reading the flow of a game and contributes as a complete midfielder.
Carrick, during his playing days, embodied the same traits. Sir Alex Ferguson signed him from Tottenham for his subtle intelligence on the field. Speaking to his brother Graeme for the Football Association before leaving United in 2018, Carrick explained the nuances of a “great pass.”
“The execution is probably the easiest part,” he said. “It is about preparing, positioning your body correctly, understanding the game’s context, and weighing risk and reward. Even a short pass counts only if it allows immediate action. A great pass dictates the next move as you envision it.”
Lessons from Mainoo’s Resurgence
Mainoo’s resurgence sparked wider debates. The first concerns Amorim and his apparent lack of trust in United’s academy—a frustration noticed by staff. The second concerns England.
It remains striking that six of Mainoo’s 10 senior caps came during Euro 2024. He played the first Nations League game after the tournament but withdrew from the following October squad and has not played since. Seeking a World Cup opportunity under Thomas Tuchel motivated his loan interest at Napoli before the summer window closed.
Now, with only five matches remaining—including Tuesday’s return to West Ham—Mainoo must impress to enter Tuchel’s plans for March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, two years after breaking into Gareth Southgate’s squad at the perfect moment.
Meanwhile, fellow United midfield prospects Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, and Alex Scott, named in November’s England squad, demonstrate the competition Mainoo faces. Carrick remains confident in the youngster’s potential.
“We must avoid placing too much pressure on him,” Carrick said. “He’s still learning. He experienced a major high, then briefly did not play. People often assume he is more experienced than he is. He just needs patience.”
