Seven matches into the new Premier League season, Kobbie Mainoo seems to have fallen off the radar in English football.
The 20-year-old midfielder has yet to start a single league game for Manchester United this season, contributing just 113 minutes of largely forgettable action. Clearly, something needs to change.
Once hailed by Sir Alex Ferguson as the “heart and soul” of the club after helping deliver the 2024 FA Cup triumph, Mainoo’s prospects at Old Trafford have taken a concerning turn.
Despite Manchester United’s midfield struggling for creativity and invention, Mainoo remains absent from the starting XI. With the next World Cup on the horizon, the young midfielder has already explored the possibility of a loan move—a strategy likely to resurface before the January transfer window.
Challenges Under Amorim
Ruben Amorim has made it clear that Mainoo is in direct competition with Bruno Fernandes for a starting berth, with Fernandes now deployed in a deeper midfield role. However, Mainoo’s struggles under Amorim predate this tactical shift.
Once a key first-team figure under Erik ten Hag, Mainoo’s influence has noticeably waned. Last season, he played the full 90 minutes in only five of 18 league appearances under Amorim, often substituted before the 75th minute.
United legend Paul Scholes highlighted these concerns earlier this year, while former teammate Phil Jones noted that Mainoo’s ability to “cover the pitch” across 90 minutes remains a major factor in his limited game time.
Wes Brown, another former United star, shared similar sentiments:
“He needs to be playing football, so he will be very disappointed with how the season has gone. He’s not at his full peak fitness yet. Players really come into their own physically around 24, 25, 26, but he’s got talent and everyone can see that. The World Cup is coming up, and he’ll want to be part of it—but he will need to play.”
Bridging the Gap
Mainoo isn’t expected to turn into N’Golo Kante overnight, but his composure, press resistance, and ability to receive and move the ball in tight spaces mark him out as one of the brightest young talents in midfield.
Reports suggest he has been working on his strength and conditioning in Spain, sending a message to Amorim that he is committed to reclaiming his spot ahead of Manchester United’s upcoming trip to Liverpool.
However, to earn the manager’s trust, that development must translate to the training pitch at Carrington. Mainoo’s work rate is rarely in question, but building the stamina to maintain it consistently in competitive matches may require extra effort.
Every physical metric of a Premier League player is now meticulously recorded and analyzed, ensuring performance levels are maintained on matchday.
Stephen Smith, CEO of Kitman Labs, a specialist in performance analytics, believes improvement is entirely possible:
“Different clubs and coaches have different expectations for physical output. A player’s current makeup may not align with what the coach is asking for. That could explain why we don’t see certain players on the pitch—they’re being developed to meet those standards.”
For Mainoo, the message is clear: talent alone isn’t enough. If he wants to be the midfielder Ruben Amorim envisions, the next months will be critical in bridging the gap between potential and performance.
