In an alternate world, Kobbie Mainoo is on loan at Napoli and Ruben Amorim is facing the heat after yet another loss to Tottenham Hotspur.
Thankfully for everyone — probably including the Portuguese manager — that isn’t case with Mainoo once again an integral part of the Manchester United team. And possibly England again very soon.
In this article we’ll cover:
Sky Bet Offer: Get £40 in free bets when you place any bet
Looking for some free bets to boost your betting fund? Sky Bet are offering customers the chance to get £40 in free bets when they sign up and place any qualifying bet.
- Sign up at Sky Bet using this link
- Place a qualifying bet of at least 5p on a single or each way bet at odds of 1/1 or greater, as your first bet
- Claim your £40 free bet bonus
18+ NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. 4 X £10 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. FREE BETS EXPIRE AFTER 30 DAYS. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY.
Mainoo embodies Carrick’s tenure
It remains the great mystery of the strange 14 months of Amorim that he near-flat out refused to use the most talented youth product at the club, particularly when midfield was such an issue.
Like his stubborn devotion to 3-4-2-1, it was a very odd hill to die on. Although they did go hand in hand to a large extent.
Michael Carrick’s four-game stint has rubbished the idea that Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes shouldn’t play together. A rather novel idea to play two of your best players together.
Carrick obviously understands the midfield position more than most but surely so did Amorim having played there himself to an international standard? Maybe it’s more to do with knowing the values of Man Utd? Or just pure stubbornness?
Whatever it is, Mainoo is the embodiment of Man Utd’s resurgence under their former captain. Partly because he’s actually playing again. The Manchester derby was his first start of the Premier League season and he’s played more minutes under Carrick than Amorim – 360 to 228.
What he’s doing with those minutes is even more impressive when you consider he had come in from the freezing cold to play against the top two sides in the country.
The connector
Against Tottenham, Mainoo did what he has done since his return to the side – connect. He is the linkman between defence and midfield and midfield and attack. On Saturday, he had 95 touches, 75 accurate passes from 80 attempted with 10 of those going into the final third.
That final stat is further proof of both the vertical passing and freedom to take responsibility encouraged by Carrick, with Fernandes referencing it in the aftermath of Saturday’s win.
The Man Utd skipper and their youngest current starter’s combination for Bryan Mbeumo’s opener was indicative of that. It was Mainoo’s second assist under Carrick following on from his nutmeg on Declan Rice to set up Matheus Cunha at the Emirates, bot of which showcased his capabilities in short spaces.
Kobbie Mainoo stats vs Fulham
| Touches | 95 |
| Passing accuracy | 94% |
| Passes into final third | 10 |
| Duels won | 8 |
| Chances created | 4 |
| Ball recoveries | 4 |
| Assists | 1 |
Goals will surely follow soon with his last strike for Man Utd in April of last year. Albeit he has barely played and that was a massive goal in the dramatic 5-4 comeback against Lyon.
Of the six other goals Mainoo has scored for Man Utd, one was a brilliant extra-time winner at Wolverhampton Wanderers, one was a go-ahead screamer against Liverpool and one was the eventual winning goal in the 2024 FA Cup final.
So, there’s no doubt that he is more than capable of delivering when it matters most. And not just for Man Utd having started from the quarter-final stage onwards for England at Euro 2024.
England calling?
Both his and Man Utd’s current form could be perfectly timed for a return to the international fold with next month’s break the final before the World Cup. The same can be said for Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw.
Thomas Tuchel is sure to have noticed and may have more than one eye on Old Trafford if rumours are to believed. Either way, it would be a surprise not to see Mainoo called up by the German.
While England’s starting midfield duo seems locked in as Rice and Elliot Anderson, behind them is anyone’s game. Jordan Henderson will go as an experienced head. Adam Wharton should make it too despite a dip in form as Palace slide.
Bournemouth’s Alex Scott was called up in November. Curtis Jones and Conor Gallagher have also been in recent squads. Jones isn’t starting for Liverpool while Mainoo replaced Gallagher two summers ago and their profiles are very different.
It was at this point of the 2023-24 season that the Man Utd man made his inclusion a non-negotiable and the same could well happen again this year. Jamie Carragher has already picked him in his ideal squad.
“There’s no doubt about Kobbie’s ability and what he can bring,” Carrick said on Saturday. “He’s still so young and learning the game. He has had the big high and then not playing for a bit. It is easier to think he is older than he is.”
Mainoo is not 21 until April yet it feels like he has already had a decade worth of storylines. He could soon have another for his country.