Manchester United fans have expressed their concerns over Kobbie Mainoo’s future at the club after footage showed the midfielder looking disconsolate after their 1-1 draw against Fulham.
Mainoo was left on the bench for the second successive match by Ruben Amorim, as the Red Devils failed to claim their first win of the campaign.
Amorim had opted for a midfield pairing of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes to start the match, with Mason Mount dropping back when the former was taken off for forward Benjamin Sesko as the game remained goalless.
Manuel Ugarte was brought on for Mount after Man United took the lead through a Rodrigo Muniz own goal.
After Emile Smith-Rowe equalised for Fulham in the 73rd minute, Amorim still opted against introducing Mainoo.
His final changes saw Harry Maguire and Ayden Heaven come on in defence, replacing Luke Shaw and Leny Yoro.
Man United fans expressed concerns over Kobbie Mainoo’s future after the draw with Fulham
Mainoo crouched down on the pitch post-match after failing to feature in the match
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Footage has been shared of Mainoo’s reaction following the final whistle at Craven Cottage following Man United’s disappointing draw.
The clip showed Mainoo crouching down on the pitch appearing dejected, with the England international then shown briefly applauding Man United’s travelling fans.
Fans have expressed concern Mainoo’s downcast reaction and his lack of game time under Amorim may be a prelude to the academy product leaving the club before the end of the transfer window.
‘He’s 100% going, look at him,’ one fan claimed, with another adding ‘He’s heartbroken’.
‘We can’t let Mainoo leave, too,’ a third said, with a fourth commenting ‘I just pray we don’t lose mainoo.’
Another fan, however, wrote ‘Stop creating unnecessary negative atmosphere. If he knows he’s not playing then he should ask to leave. He’s not the first player to be on bench and he won’t be the last.’
Mainoo has started just 15 of Amorim’s 44 matches in charge to date, falling victim to the head coach’s preference of pairing an attacking midfielder alongside a defensive-minded partner in his system.
Amorim revealed post-match that the 20-year-old is in competition with Man United captain Fernandes for a place in the starting line-up.
Mainoo was an unused substitute for the second consecutive match under Ruben Amorim
Amorim has revealed Mainoo is competing with Bruno Fernandes for a starting position
‘Mainoo is fighting for his position with Bruno. I changed two midfielders. I left Mason Mount there because we wanted to score a goal and when I changed, I felt the team needed one holding midfielder,’ he said.
‘So he needs to fight for his position with Bruno. At the moment, he is fighting in training with Bruno for the position.’
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Man United legend Gary Neville has admitted his concerns for Mainoo, suggesting he appears to be Amorim’s fourth choice central midfielder.
‘In central midfield, they have to do a piece of business now,’ he said on the Gary Neville podcast.
‘I would have liked to have thought that Mainoo could step up and be that person, but it is quite clear that at this moment in time Ruben Amorim isn’t having him.
‘He starts with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, he then puts Mason Mount back in there and he then brings Ugarte on in front of him.
‘That tells you he is almost fourth choice really.’
