Ruben Amorim has revealed why Kobbie Mainoo has still not managed a minute of Premier League football after the Manchester United star was left on the bench again against Fulham.
United were held to a 1-1 draw against Fulham on Sunday with Mainoo left out of the starting XI for the second week running.
The England international also failed to come off the bench against Arsenal last week. When United were chasing an equaliser against the Gunners at Old Trafford, Amorim instead turned to the more defensive-minded Manuel Ugarte to come on midway through the second-half.
It was the same story at Craven Cottage with Ugarte coming onto replace Mason Mount after 69 minutes.
With United holding onto the lead, the decision was perhaps more understandable. But after Fulham’s equalised through Emile Smith Rowe, Amorim again refused to call upon his young midfielder who has made a habit of scoring vital late goals since breaking into the team.
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Amorim made two more changes with three minutes of the game left, both at the back with Harry Maguire and Ayden Heaven coming on for Luke Shaw and Leny Yoro.
Explaining why Mainoo was not brought on, the United boss explained the 20-year-old is now in direct competition with club captain Bruno Fernandes for a central midfield role.
Asked why Mainoo has not had any minutes yet, Amorim said in post-match press conference: ‘He is fighting for the position now with Bruno.
‘And I change to two midfielders, I left Mason Mount there because we want to score a goal and when I change I felt the team needs to have one holding midfielder near Bruno.
‘So he just needs to fight for the position with Bruno like it should be at Manchester United.’
After a sublime breakout season at Old Trafford, Mainoo endured a tougher second campaign in the first-team during the 2024-25 season.
Following Amorim’s appointment last November, he started 12 Premier League matches under the Portuguese coach, often left out of the starting XI in United’s run to the Europa League final.
Mainoo failed to start any games against Lyon and Athletic Bilbao, despite scoring a crucial late equaliser against the former, and came off the bench to play just one minute against Tottenham in the final.