Mainoo’s blocked pathwaypublished at 10:25 British Summer Time
10:25 BST
Fulham 1-1 Man Utd
Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Kobbie Mainoo was an unused substitute yesterday as
Manchester United drew with Fulham at Craven Cottage.
When Ruben Amorim made changes during the game, the first
was to drop Mason Mount into a deeper role for Casemiro as Benjamin Sesko came
on. Then Manuel Ugarte replaced Mount as United looked for a winner.
Mainoo seems to have slipped back
quite a way since the his 2023-24 breakthrough campaign under Erik ten Hag,
when he scored in the FA Cup final and started for England in the Euro 2024
final.
Judging by who the 20-year-old is
in direct competition with in the United squad, according to Ruben Amorim, the
midfielder might be in for a frustrating few weeks.
“He’s fighting for the position now with Bruno (Fernandes),”
he said.
“I changed two midfielders. I left Mason Mount there because
we want to score a goal and when I changed again, I felt the team need to
return to one holding midfielder near Bruno.
“He just needs to fight for the position with Bruno, as
should be at Manchester United.
“He will play with Bruno (as well) but at the moment he’s
fighting in training with Bruno for the position.”
Unless Fernandes is moved into one of the number 10 roles new
signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo presently occupy, it is difficult to
see Amorim dropping his captain.