Phil Jones made a brilliant observation after watching Kobbie Mainoo make his second start of the season in Manchester United’s FA Cup third-round defeat to Brighton.
Although Kobbie Mainoo missed Ruben Amorim’s last four Premier League matches as Manchester United head coach due to injury, it is worth noting that the England midfielder has yet to start a league game this season.
The 20-year-old returned to the starting line-up in United’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup on Sunday, with his previous start coming in the embarrassing Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town.
What are your expectations for Kobbie Mainoo now Ruben Amorim has been fired?
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It was Darren Fletcher who decided to bring Mainoo back into the team, initially bringing him off the bench in United’s 2-2 draw against Burnley at Turf Moor.
Following Mainoo’s 62-minute display, it remains to be seen if he will make back-to-back starts when United host Man City in the Manchester derby on Sunday.
Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty ImagesPhil Jones’ analysis of Kobbie Mainoo’s display against Brighton
Mainoo didn’t pull up any trees with his performance against Brighton, but it was a boost for the young midfielder to get his first start in the team since August.
It has been a challenging season for Mainoo, often overlooked by Amorim and losing his place in the England squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. He has until the end of the season to persuade Thomas Tuchel to change his mind.
Former United defender Phil Jones has now offered his analysis of Mainoo’s latest display, accepting that it wasn’t ‘brilliant’ but still offered something different in the middle of the pitch.
“I think what I would say yesterday, I know Kobbie wasn’t brilliant, but you have to understand that his minutes have been incredibly limited this season,” Jones told Sports Illustrated FC.
“So for him to come in a game like that and just turn it on in the blink of an eye, it’s not going to happen.
“It doesn’t work like that. Football doesn’t work like that.
“But I thought what he did was which people might not understand and not see when they’re just watching the game that even in build-up at times, the way he offered himself and the way we beat the press because of his positioning, because he was just capable of taking the ball under pressure.
“Even if there’s a man behind him, capable of just popping it to the side where we could get out and first touch took him out the game.
“I did see that in him. I did see a different side to us when we were building up at times yesterday.
“He does offer that Kobbie. But again, I just think what they’re missing is that Kante type of player who can just cover ground who, yes, he’s good with the ball, but he covers ground well.
“He gives you that balance out of possession, and at the minute they just you just don’t quite have that.”
What did you think of Kobbie Mainoo’s performance vs Brighton?
Did he do enough to earn a starting place vs City next weekend?
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With Michael Carrick set to come in as interim manager, Mainoo will be hoping to reclaim his key role in the team that he enjoyed under Erik ten Hag.
Kobbie Mainoo record in the Manchester derby
Mainoo has played in five Manchester derbies since graduating from United’s academy.
The biggest win came in the 2024 FA Cup final when Mainoo scored one of United’s goals in a 2-1 win over Pep Guardiola’s side.
However, that was one of two wins for Mainoo in derby matches.
Mainoo has also suffered three defeats at the hands of City.
Only time will tell if he’ll get a start in Carrick’s first game as interim head coach.
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