Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is out of action with injury for Manchester United, getting a well-earned breather.
It was late November 2023 that Kobbie Mainoo made his first ever Premier League start, helping Manchester United to a 3-0 win away at Everton.
Since then Mainoo has not looked back, enjoying an unstoppable rise, becoming an ever-present for Manchester United and England.
Mainoo scored the eventual winner in the FA Cup Final, and went onto start the Euro 2024 Final for England in the summer.
Drawbacks of Kobbie Mainoo success
All of this meant Mainoo barely got a summer break, and when he did return, he was accelerated straight back into United’s starting XI for the Premier League opener.
Erik ten Hag continued to select Mainoo, he made nine appearances this season before suffering an injury. The handling of this caused questions, as he appeared to be rushed back after an injury against Tottenham to play Aston Villa, before being sidelined for a more substantial time.
United’s desire to rush Mainoo back to action was understandable. He has been United’s best midfielder over the past year.
Yet he was also playing in a very demanding system under Erik ten Hag, which saw Casemiro crumble, and Manuel Ugarte struggle early on.
It has been a positive step for Mainoo to get a breather, both physically and mentally as he takes a step back from the intensity of starting games twice a week, and he will miss the upcoming international break too.
Mainoo back in better scenario
Kobbie Mainoo is not too far off a return – but speaking ahead of the Leicester fixture, Van Nistelrooy said he ‘needs more time’.
And that’s fine, because Manchester United are no longer desperate for Mainoo to come in and play saviour, as great as his availability would be.
United have found a midfield pairing finally capable of holding the fort, with South American duo Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte looking like a force to be reckoned with.
This is exactly what United needed to happen, and it is a real gift to Kobbie Mainoo’s short-term and long-term health.
He did not need to return before he was ready, or return into a situation where United were totally dependent on him, just like at the start of the season.
This would only risk setting him back again. If Mainoo returns and goes straight back into the line-up, it will be Ruben Amorim’s choice, not a decision out of necessity or desperation.
It’s a far more stable scenario than the one Mainoo experienced early this season.
This also points to a failure of recruitment in the summer; Manuel Ugarte should have been brought in earlier, not on deadline day.
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