Manchester United make Kobbie Mainoo decision ahead of Man City clash

Manchester United and Erik ten Hag appeared to have made a decision on Kobbie Mainoo ahead of the Premier League clash against Manchester City on Sunday.

Mainoo, 18, has recently returned from an ankle injury that he sustained during United’s pre-season tour in America.

The teenager played 45 minutes during the under-19’s loss in the UEFA Youth League against Copenhagen on Tuesday afternoon.

“Good to get 45 minutes in the legs after a tough time out,” said the midfielder. “[The] work starts now.”

With the Manchester derby coming this weekend, and the under-21s playing a PL2 fixture against Fulham on Friday evening, it was assumed by many that Mainoo would continue to build fitness levels with the youth teams this week before a return to the first-team squad next week.

However, when the squad was revealed for the clash in the capital, the midfielder was not included, which has raised eyebrows.

It appears that a Manchester derby squad inclusion awaits Mainoo. And he must be in contention to appear, likely from the bench, due to the decision to not include him in the game on Friday.

Last week, Ten Hag suggested that the academy talent would be getting minutes this week, but many assumed that it would be against Copenhagen and not the current Premier League champions.

“He is close,” the manager said before United’s 2-1 win against Sheffield United last weekend.

“He is already training with us. Not today but I think, next week, he will have some minutes in the team. So then he can catch up on his game minutes. So he is really improving and ready to get back in the squad for games.”