With just one point from the first two games of the season, Manchester United fans are frustrated. The fact that Kobbie Mainoo has yet to take to the pitch has only added to this.
In Manchester United‘s first two games of the 2025/26 Premier League season, Kobbie Mainoo did not start either of them. This is understandable, as Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes are both key players.
However, in both games, Rúben Amorim has left him on the bench throughout the entire game, which is far more confusing to United fans. Against Arsenal, the more optimistic amongst us suggested that it was a one-off, some suggested that Manuel Ugarte was more like-for-like with Casemiro.
But then, for the second weekend in a row, Mainoo was once again completely overlooked at Fulham. Fernandes had 17 minutes in the double pivot with Mason Mount before Ugarte was again brought on, and two defenders were brought on towards the end of the game when it was tied at 1-1.
Amorim has faced midfield problems throughout his entire Manchester United tenure, and the club definitely need reinforcements in that area. But an increase in his use of the Englishman could well alleviate some of those issues.
Mainoo smooths out United’s possession play
The most standout area of Mainoo’s game, one that allowed him to be a key player for United at 18, is his ability in possession. Mainoo is ridiculously composed, able to handle all kinds of pressure, and few match his ability on the turn in English football.
The player, valued at around £70 million during the January transfer window, also keeps the ball well and is generally positive with it. These traits never feel limited to specific areas on the pitch. Mainoo is a smooth operator all across the pitch, something very difficult to find in a midfielder.
One thing that Amorim’s United have struggled massively with is settled possession. In the first two phases of possession, United struggle to move to the next one, and in the final phase, they appear quite stale, lacking the ability to truly trouble the blocks.
Mainoo’s ability to link play between the phases is excellent, again going back to that ability to take the ball on the turn and beat pressure. He is also able to face players one-on-one and beat them with skill, causing chaos for settled defences.
This is something that United sorely lack in the midfield at present, despite the good qualities the other players bring. His tendency to keep the ball also helps, as United have a lot of trigger-happy players in the team that tend to rush the play.
He has shown he’s ready to handle pressure, and adds goals
The 20-year-old has also demonstrated the ability to attack the box from central midfield and finish effectively. He is particularly adept at finding corners, and given United’s struggles with scoring goals at the moment, this is a quality they could certainly do with.
But if you look at the games and moments his goals have come in, it suddenly becomes much more impressive. He has scored against Liverpool at Old Trafford, a last-minute winner away at Wolves, in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, and the equaliser in that absolutely mental 5-4 win over Lyon.
Even without goals, though, the performances in difficult moments have been fantastic at such a young age. In that aforementioned FA Cup final against Manchester City, he was the Player of the Match, completely playing Ballon d’Or winner Rodri off the park.
He has shown up in multiple other big games for United, looking unfazed by pressure, and was also key in England’s run to the final of the Euros in 2024. In the semi-final against the Netherlands, particularly, he looked the best midfielder on a pitch that featured some huge names.
Yes, Mainoo is young and shouldn’t necessarily be rushed. He does have developing to do out of possession, and with his passing range – something Fernandes and Casemiro offer over him in those deeper positions.
But also, he has more than proven himself ready to hang with the world’s best. With United’s current struggles and Mainoo’s qualities, it really feels he should be getting more minutes than he is right now, because he could genuinely make a big impact in this team.
United’s next fixture is an away trip against League Two side Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup second round. It’s the perfect fixture to give Mainoo a genuine trial in the starting XI.
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