![\"Manchester](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-2235412806.jpg\")
\n\t\tManchester United manager Ruben Amorim (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tManchester United manager Ruben Amorim (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
Steve Nicol<\/a> believes that Kobbie Mainoo<\/a>\u2019s frailties off the ball are why the Manchester United<\/a> midfielder has barely featured under Ruben Amorim<\/a> this season.<\/p>\n Mainoo has not started any of United\u2019s first seven Premier League<\/a> games in a clear sign that he has fallen down the pecking order under Amorim.<\/p>\n The 20-year-old enjoyed a breakout season under Erik ten Hag<\/a>, culminating in him starting for England in the Euro 2024<\/a> final, but Amorim has preferred to partner Bruno Fernandes<\/a> with one of Casemiro<\/a> or Manuel Ugarte in his two-man midfield.<\/p>\n In search of regular minutes, Mainoo sought to engineer a loan move away from Old Trafford in the summer window to boost his chances of making England\u2019s World Cup squad.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Red Devils refused to sanction a move<\/a>, though, meaning Mainoo is now seemingly consigned to cameo appearances off the bench unless he can somehow force his way into Amorim\u2019s plans.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGet personalised updates on Manchester United every day\t\t\t<\/p>\n Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro\u2019s Football Newsletter. <\/p>\n Sign up to our newsletter<\/a> and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. <\/p>\n And former Liverpool defender Nicol fears that could be unlikely, suggesting that Mainoo \u2018doesn\u2019t do enough\u2019 to help his side out of possession.<\/p>\n \u2018In my opinion, Mainoo is great with the ball at his feet but when the opposition has the ball, he doesn\u2019t do enough,\u2019 Nicol told ESPN<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018In fact, he doesn\u2019t do anything. He doesn\u2019t stop people getting at Man Ut\u2019d back four. And the fact that that is one of the biggest problems United have and this guy still can\u2019t figure it out.<\/p>\n \u2018I think basically he\u2019s been found out because at the end of the day, when you play for the top clubs and you want to be challenging, your players have to contribute on both sides of the ball. <\/p>\n \u2018And if there is one thing Mainoo doesn\u2019t do, it\u2019s contribute defensively.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018The fact that Casemiro is starting over him consistently tells you that there is a problem and the kid is not as good as we thought he was when he first burst onto the scene.<\/p>\n Asked if Amorim could work with Mainoo to improve on those parts of his game, Nicol responded: \u2018It\u2019s interesting you say work with him, because it looks like the work rate on that side isn\u2019t there.<\/p>\n \u2018Any coach who has a player who he thinks isn\u2019t giving their all, when it comes to having to play one guy or another, that guy is getting shoved away.<\/p>\n \u2018If you\u2019re the coach at United and you\u2019re watching Mainoo time after time letting people run off them and looking as though you are not that bothered about it, you\u2019re going to the bottom of the pile.\u2019<\/p>\n Speaking last month, Amorim insisted that Mainoo needed to improve in order to secure more playing time at United.<\/p>\n \u2018Like a lot of guys, he wants to play more,\u2019 Amorim said.<\/p>\n \u2018I believe a lot in Kobbie but some of you think that Kobbie Mainoo is already done. I think he can do so much better. He can improve in a lot.<\/p>\n \u2018And sometimes I think for some guys it\u2019s [the level he\u2019s playing at now] enough. For him, it\u2019s not enough. Maybe it\u2019s not fair but I think I\u2019m helping Kobbie Mainoo and that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n \u2018He will have opportunities like the other guys. If I feel during the week that he\u2019s the best player to play, he\u2019s going to play and I proved that already to every player here.<\/p>\n \u2018I believe a lot in him. I have the same thing [opinion] that you have and that is a top, top player, but he can be so much better, so I\u2019m focused on that.\u2019<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Manchester](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-2239159397.jpg\")
\n\t\tKobbie Mainoo has struggled for game time this season (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SEI_267894121-1e0f.jpg\")
\n\t\tMainoo is yet to start a Premier League game under Amorim this season (Picture: Reuters)<\/p>\n
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