Midfield wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo<\/a> has barely featured. In matches against Everton, Crystal Palace and West Ham, the midfielder has played 32 minutes of a possible 270.<\/p>\n Next up, Mainoo and Manchester United return to the scene of the midfielder\u2019s best moment for the club in the Premier League<\/a>.<\/p>\n In early 2024, Kobbie Mainoo<\/a> was beginning to really establish himself as a key player in the Manchester United team.<\/p>\n A week earlier he had scored his first Manchester United goal, in a FA Cup win away at Newport County<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mainoo followed this up by scoring a solo winner to give Manchester United a 4-3 win at Molineux<\/a>, after the Red Devils had blown a 3-1 lead.<\/p>\n Picking the ball up near the touchline, Mainoo jinked towards the box, beat an opponent, and curled the ball across the goalkeeper and into the far corner<\/a>.<\/p>\n The stoppage time goal sparked bedlam among the away fans \u2013 and capped his stunning rise<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mainoo had become a true matchwinner for Manchester United for the first time.<\/p>\n Kobbie Mainoo knows how to score a winner at Molineux! Will Ruben Amorim give him a chance? <\/p>\n Can Kobbie Mainoo do it again?<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n Manager at the time Erik ten Hag<\/a> supported the view that Kobbie Mainoo had the world at his feet.<\/p>\n Speaking after the win, Ten Hag said<\/a>: \u201cHe is making incredible progress. He has great abilities, he is the modern midfield player. <\/p>\n \u201cHe can defend and attack but also he has the physicality to do both ways. He is also composed.\u201d<\/p>\n Mainoo went on to score the winner in the 2024 FA Cup Final<\/a>, before starring for England at Euro 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Mainoo may not even make the squad, because he cannot get into the Manchester United team.<\/p>\n Push comes to shove: Would you rather have Kobbie Mainoo stay at Man Utd or Ruben Amorim? <\/p>\n \ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n Kobbie Mainoo faces uphill battle to face Wolves<\/p>\n Kobbie Mainoo is available for Manchester United against Wolves, however, he is not expected to start the game.<\/p>\n Mainoo has not started a single Premier League game this season, and Ruben Amorim prefers to call on Manuel Ugarte<\/a> from the bench, despite admitting the Uruguayan is struggling<\/a>.<\/p>\n Are you confident Man Utd will beat Wolves? <\/p>\n \ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n Looking back at Erik ten Hag\u2019s comments about Mainoo\u2019s continual improvement and development into a top modern midfield player is eye-opening, almost a full two years on.<\/p>\n Mainoo is not being allowed to develop, and if anything, he is going backwards as his confidence has been dented by Ruben Amorim.<\/p>\n![\"Kobbie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-1978922672-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by James Gill \u2013 Danehouse\/Getty ImagesMainoo won the game away at Wolves in early 2024<\/p>\n![\"Mainoo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mainoo-Wolves-2024-819x1024.png\")
Getty Images <\/p>\n![\"Kobbie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/kobbie-mainoo-and-ruben-amorim-split-1764583570629-1024x576.jpg\")
Credit: James Gill \u2013 Danehouse\/Getty Images <\/p>\n![\"Utd](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/PreWolves.png\")
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