Kobbie Mainoo has reportedly become increasingly bothered by Rúben Amorim’s actions with two Manchester United stars amid his desire to leave on loan.
Kobbie Mainoo has not started a single game for Manchester United in the Premier League so far this season, with all of his appearances coming off the bench.
Since the start of the campaign, Mainoo has struggled to make his way into Ruben Amorim’s starting XI, with the Portuguese manager utilising other midfield options instead.
The likes of Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes seem to be favoured more greatly by the United head coach, despite the 20-year-old’s clear immense talent.
Despite making ten appearances in the league this season, he’s played just 183 minutes in the competition – the equivalent of just two whole fixtures out of the 15 so far.
Mainoo bothered by Amorim’s recent changes
While Mainoo’s lack of minutes has been the main consequence of United’s lack of European football this season, there are other players who have also had to bide their time for starts.
Joshua Zirkzee had played just 90 minutes of football before the beginning of the month, but has since started the club’s last three games following Benjamin Šeško’s injury. At the same time, centre-back Ayden Heaven had to wait for Matthijs de Ligt’s absence to see himself start.
According to TeamTalk, Amorim’s recent change in stance to start trusting Zirkzee and Heaven, known to be two of Mainoo’s close friends at the club, has ‘bothered’ the player amid his continued lack of chances in Red.
While Mainoo requested to leave on loan in the last week of August, it’s also reported that he will be more forceful this time around and demand that he is allowed to depart to secure regular playing time.
AFCON could be the difference for Mainoo
The mitigating circumstances for Zirkzee’s and Heaven’s increased roles are injuries. If Šeško and De Ligt were fit, neither player would have started. However, with Amad and Bryan Mbeumo set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations next week, Mainoo may be handed his chance.
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Fernandes is the man above him in the pecking order in midfield, but the club captain has been playing further up front in the last few games, and has racked up two goals and three assists in his previous three appearances.
When Mbeumo and Amad depart, there is a gaping hole on the right-hand side of the front three, and Fernandes is clearly the best-suited option for the position.
If Amorim does choose to move his captain forward into the right flank, this would allow Mainoo to slip straight into the starting XI alongside CAsemiro for the next few weeks and give him the time needed to prove himself.
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