Roy Keane and Paul Scholes have reacted to Kobbie Mainoo receiving a Manchester United lifeline under Michael Carrick after Ruben Amorim’s sacking at Old Trafford.
Kobbie Mainoo has managed to climb back into the Manchester United starting XI after a turbulent season under former Red Devils head coach Ruben Amorim.
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The 20-year-old midfielder was left battling for United first-team minutes – and his future – after Amorim dropped him from the Red Devils XI in the 2025-26 season.
Mainoo had only made one start across all competitions under Amorim before the 41-year-old former United manager was sacked by the Premier League club.
Michael Carrick was appointed interim head coach this month and Mainoo has already made back-to-back Premier League starts under the United legend.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesPaul Scholes on seeing Kobbie Mainoo back in the Man Utd starting XI under Michael Carrick
Kobbie Mainoo made his first Premier League start of the season in Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Manchester City in the final Manchester derby of the season.
The Stockport-born midfield talent completed the full 90 minutes and played alongside Casemiro in the two-man pivot under Michael Carrick’s Man Utd tactics.
Speaking on The Overlap, Paul Scholes highlighted the major role of seeing Mainoo in the Man Utd starting XI again for the Arsenal match at the Emirates last Sunday.
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“I mean, that’s what I’m talking about with what Arsenal is missing,” he said on the Stick to Football podcast.
“Kobbie and Fernandes, they make your team play football. When they had just been doing it with Fernandes, they sent someone to play.
“He didn’t really have anyone to play with. Now, Kobbie’s also got that ability to play with someone. It makes a big difference.”
Roy Keane’s verdict on Man Utd and England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in the post-Ruben Amorim era at Old Trafford
Mainoo played alongside Casemiro again in Man Utd’s 3-2 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates and the England midfielder also picked up a key assist for the winner.
The Three Lions ace has now completed two back-to-back 90-minute performances in the Premier League for the first time in the 2025-26 campaign.
Roy Keane spotlighted how quickly football can change after speculation mounted around Mainoo’s future under Ruben Amorim before disappearing under Carrick.
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“Bring Mainoo back in, we’re talking about six, seven weeks, so Mainoo should leave Man United,” he said.
“He goes, no, bide your time, you might get that chance. But when you get the chance, what he has done.”
The Sky Sports pundit added: “But what he’s done Gary, with Mainoo, we obviously in football, you get opportunities, but you’ve got to take it.
“[A] Man City home derby game, big game for United, Arsenal away, Arsenal have gone really well. So, you couldn’t ask for any more.
“Absolutely. It’s been brilliant.”
Mainoo has made 16 appearances across all competitions in the 2025-26 campaign and the Man Utd midfielder has registered two assists for the Red Devils.
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