Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker feels one star will be furious with Rúben Amorim after his treatment so far this campaign.
After a five-match unbeaten run, Manchester United slipped to a hugely disappointing defeat against Everton, failing to score despite having a man advantage.
The loss has punctured the recent optimism at Old Trafford, and the only way to restore that positivity is by beating Crystal Palace next week.
That will not be straightforward, as Oliver Glasner’s team have been one of the Premier League’s standout sides this season.
Rúben Amorim’s side will be determined to claim all three points, although they carry an additional concern heading into this fixture.
Amorim told he must fix Mainoo issue
Amid United’s turbulent form, 20-year-old midfield talent Kobbie Mainoo has been handed barely any game time, having yet to start in the league and playing just 170 minutes across eight appearances off the bench.
With Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes consistently playing ahead of the Englishman in the middle of the park, former United defender Paul Parker has stated he believes Mainoo will be “furious” with Amorim’s treatment.
‘I don’t think he is leaving because I don’t think the club can afford to let him go, but if he never gets minutes, he has to leave for his own sake,” Parker told MyBettingSites.
“He must be feeling horrible at the moment, because he knows the manager has taken away his opportunity to go to the World Cup. He must be furious at Amorim. He has to be. There is no chance of him going, and his name won’t even be mentioned.
“It would be a very bad story for the club if he were to leave. Just look at McTominay. I don’t think he would have made a massive difference at Man United at this moment in time, but you can’t have another one of those stories coming out.”
Amorim could fix Mainoo problem during AFCON
Further, Parker stated that he feels it would be a disaster if Mainoo left United and started performing well, as it would only raise further questions, meaning Amorim must find a fix for the ongoing problem soon.
“It would be terrible if Mainoo leaves and all of a sudden does very well, because then everyone will question Amorim and the club,” Parker continued.
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“He is a player and a person I hope the best for. He is a wonderful young lad, and his talent is immense. He is one of the best products that have come out of Man United for many years, so they have to find a way for him to get into the team and perform.”
With Amad and Bryan Mbeumo set to depart in the next few weeks for the Africa Cup of Nations, Amorim has the perfect chance to solve the issue.
With no clear options on the right-hand side of attack, if Fernandes were to move there alongside the striker, Mainoo could slot into midfield alongside Casemiro, with whom he formed a fantastic partnership during his breakout campaign.
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