Man Utd play Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday and there is a key team selection decision to make.
Steven is a senior writer and covers Manchester United for the Manchester Evening News. You can follow Steven on Twitter at @StevenRailston.
Ruben Amorim has a midfield decision to make.(Image: 2025 Manchester United FC)
Will Ruben Amorim give Kobbie Mainoo his first Premier League start of the season against Brentford?
The Manchester Evening News revealed earlier this week that Mainoo is doing everything he can to force his way into Manchester United’s starting team after slipping down the pecking order.
Mainoo has changed his private chef at home and worked with a private coach during the September international break in an attempt to improve. The youngster is understood to be determined to earn a starting role, with a view to representing England at the 2026 World Cup next summer.
It’s encouraging to learn that Mainoo has reacted positively to the disappointment of the denial of his loan request, but it will become harder for him to stay focused if his wait for a league start continues.
Mainoo was an unused substitute in the opening games against Arsenal and Fulham. He has made appearances from the bench against Burnley, Manchester City and Chelsea, and his only start of the campaign came against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup second round last month.
Amorim has challenged Mainoo to improve – he provided detailed thoughts on Mainoo’s development before facing City – and has confirmed he is competing with Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes and Mainoo are seen as competitors for one of the midfield roles, while Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte are competitors for the other position. From Mainoo’s perspective, that raises the possibility of him hardly starting because Fernandes is practically viewed as undroppable by Amorim.
There was a chance against Chelsea last weekend to move Fernandes forward and start Mainoo because Matheus Cunha was returning from injury and was named on the bench. However, United’s captain started alongside Casemiro, who received a second yellow card at the end of the first half.
Casemiro is unavailable to face Brentford on Saturday afternoon. That means Amorim will pick between Fernandes, Ugarte and Mainoo for the two midfield positions in his system.
If Amorim does not budge from his stance on his midfielders, then Fernandes will play alongside Ugarte. Mainoo will be named on the bench and the conversation around the academy graduate will continue.
Amorim will decide whether Mainoo and Fernandes is the best partnership to win the game. And in the circumstances, that may be the case. Ugarte offers more defensive cover, but Mainoo is better on the ball and will be the better option to help control the game at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Speaking before the Manchester derby, Amorim said: “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.”
He continued: “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.”
It was illuminating to hear Amorim speak at length about Mainoo. He promised that he believed in the midfielder, and it’s probably time to prove it against Brentford on Saturday afternoon.