Kobbie Mainoo told how to force Ruben Amorim change as pundit moots personal issues behind absence
Kobbie Mainoo has been instructed by a former player on how to wiggle his way back into the Man United starting XI if personal issues aren’t behind him being neglected by Ruben Amorim.
Much of the summer transfer window at Old Trafford revolved around the young Englishman as Mainoo will now try to force a loan move away from Man United in January.
The 20-year-old has been seemingly thrown out of the Portuguese’s plans with ex-Barcelona striker Gary Lineker baffled with Amorim’s treatment of Mainoo at Man United.
As the Red Devils fell 3-0 to their Manchester rivals on 14 September, data proves Amorim should start Mainoo with his managerial career hanging by a thread.
Ex-Watford forward Troy Deeney gave his take on the awkward situation as the United academy graduate looks to pick up more minutes ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Kobbie Mainoo needs to knock on the door of Ruben Amorim says Troy Deeney
Discussing the midfielder’s troublesome situation on talkSPORT (15 September), the former Hornet provided a possible solution to get Mainoo back into the starting XI.
Deeney detailed the necessary plan for the England international, stating: “Is he proving it day in, day out? The answer would be no, because the manager would put him in otherwise.
“So, if I was Kobbie Mainoo, and this is just me as a person, I knocked the door this morning. ‘Can we have a chat?’
“‘What is it you need me to do to be in the team?’ And if he [Amorim] says you need to run more, tackle the ball, pass the ball, no problem.
“And every single time I did it in training, every time I made a tackle, I’ll be like, ‘like that gaff.’
“I’m just letting him know in front of everybody, this is what you said to do and I’m doing it.”
The player turned pundit then suggested that if that fails, there may be a greater underlying issue between the United man and the ex-Sporting CP manager, adding: “And I just make it a point until you play me because then if you don’t play me after two weeks, I go, ‘hold on, there’s a personal problem here because you said you needed that, I’m delivering it, why aren’t I playing?'”
Kobbie Mainoo in pivotal moment to get into England team for World Cup
The disappointment of not securing a move away in the summer transfer window would have greatly frustrated the United academy graduate.
Understandably, Mainoo will feel as if he has been axed by the Portuguese despite not being completely out of form at Old Trafford.
Amorim’s decision to opt for Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro in the central-midfield roles has been to the detriment of the 20-year-old who now has a decision to make.
| Kobbie Mainoo 2025-26 all competitions | |
| Appearances (starts) | 3 (1) |
| Minutes played | 163 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 1 |
Does he miraculously force a move away from Manchester in January and sit on the bench for four months or does he prove his worth to the Red Devils boss?
Arguably, by sticking around and forcing his way back into Amorim’s thinking, he may garner greater respect from Thomas Tuchel for his defining work ethic.
However, the sensible play would be for Mainoo to land a vital loan deal in the next transfer window to give him the best chance of featuring at the 2026 World Cup.