Man Utd youngster Kobbie Mainoo scored the winner in the 2024 FA Cup final but has lost his place in the team.Kobbie Mainoo in action against Burnley.(Image: 2025 Visionhaus)

Kobbie Mainoo is determined to win his starting role back at Manchester United this season.

The Manchester Evening News understands Mainoo is working hard at Carrington and doing everything he can to impress Ruben Amorim, who has challenged the youngster to improve.

It’s understood Mainoo has even changed his private chef at home in an attempt to improve his game. The midfielder also worked with a private coach during the September international break.

Mainoo is desperate to start regularly for United again after slipping down the pecking order.

The 20-year-old wanted to leave United on loan in the final week of the summer transfer window, but United did not entertain his request. The MEN have been told Mainoo did not want to leave his boyhood club permanently, and only wanted a loan for the sake of regular minutes in an important season.

The youngster has reacted positively to the denial of his loan request and is focused on forcing his way into United’s starting team so that he can represent England at the 2026 World Cup.

Mainoo started against Spain in the Euro 2024 final, but he was not included in England’s squad for September’s international fixtures. Thomas Tuchel explained that he needs minutes to feature in his plans.

Representing England next summer is a huge motivation for Mainoo.

Amorim has challenged Mainoo to fight for his place and he provided detailed thoughts on the youngster when he spoke at a press conference ahead of the Manchester derby.

“No, like a lot of guys, he wants to play more,” said Amorim when asked whether he’d seen a difference in Mainoo. “I didn’t have a conversation with him before the window closed – I did this week.

“Because I don’t want Kobbie Mainoo thinking that I was having any conversation with him just to hold on to him. I don’t want that feeling. I believe a lot in Kobbie, but some of you think that Kobbie Mainoo is already done (the finished article). I think he can do so much better, he can improve in a lot.

“I think for some guys it is enough (their talent), but for him it is not enough. Maybe it’s not fair, but I think I’m helping Kobbie Mainoo, and that’s it. He will have opportunities like the other guys.

“If I feel during the week that someone is the best player to play, then he is going to play. And that I proved already to every player here. So I believe in him a lot… I have the same thing that you have: that he is a top, top player, but he can be so much better. So I’m focused on that.”

Mainoo has not started in the Premier League so far this term. Amorim said: “You have to imagine… Sometimes it’s the opinion of a coach. I remember Vitinha was not playing for Wolverhampton.

“Then nowadays, you can see that Vitinha – maybe – is the best midfielder in the world. So you never know. Something can happen sometimes. The way I play is completely different from the last manager.

“Sometimes, I look at Kobbie Mainoo and I feel that sometimes he was like – and I watched a lot of games from the Premier League when I was in Portugal – and you can feel that the Manchester United team was really transitional.

“He was the only guy who calmed down the game. Now we have other players who can calm down the game. We play a different game, and sometimes I expect more from Kobbie Mainoo.

“And I know that he can give that. So sometimes, like you said, maybe if I start more Kobbie Mainoo, then he is going to play and he’s going to get hard to take out. Sometimes it’s not fair, but I need to go with what I’m feeling in the moment, and that is the only feeling.

“I know that he started the final of the European Championship in one team that has a lot of talented players. (Phil) Foden played in that game. (Cole) Palmer was on the bench. He (Mainoo) was playing… I know all that. But sometimes I have a different way of seeing the game.”

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