Kobbie Mainoo verdict emerges after dramatic Man United U-turn
Kobbie Mainoo’s return to the Man United starting line-up may make the midfielder a late candidate for England’s World Cup squad.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who states that Ruben Amorim’s judgement on Mainoo is being proved wrong.
Amorim froze Mainoo out of his plans at Man United, with the 20-year-old pushing for a move elsewhere in need of playing time before the Portuguese manager was sacked.
Mainoo is now a big part of Man United’s plans and the midfielder has started both games under interim manager Michael Carrick.
Ruben Amorim’s judgement ‘faulty’ on Kobbie Mainoo
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – states Mainoo’s situation under Amorim proved the former Man United manager was not capable of managing in the Premier League.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness believes Amorim could be made to look a fool if Mainoo now makes England‘s World Cup squad.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I mean, the number of times I’ve seen players, you know, either the manager fancies them or they don’t. And yet, how can he be such a great player before when the previous manager wanted to sign him, and now he’s such a bad player with a new manager.
“It’s a problem. And I think with Mainoo, everybody, I mean, pundits, everybody, he’d been tipped for England, we all know. Nobody thought he was a bad player at all but Amorim.
“And this is a case where Amorim’s judgment may have been maybe a little bit faulty and his slavish application to his system that he wanted to play in his formation did become a bit of a big problem for him. It proved that perhaps he was not Premier League quality in terms of managerial capabilities.
“Look, Mainoo I think he’s a talent. I think you can see a new lease of life. He’s got a lot to give United. He’s the right age. I think there’s every chance he might get into the squad for the World Cup. If he has a great World Cup, then everybody looks great apart from Amorim.”
Jadon Sancho future remains unclear
Jadon Sancho was another player not utilised by Amorim at Man United, with the forward currently on loan at Aston Villa.
However, Sancho is still not in Man United’s plans and the 25-year-old is not set to remain at Aston Villa beyond the end of this season.
Sancho could be a free agent as his contract at Old Trafford expires at the end of the season, with the club having the option to extend it by 12 months.