MUTV pundit gives verdict on Kobbie Mainoo performance for Manchester United vs Newcastle

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Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim felt the same way supporters did in the first half against Newcastle. He could not stomach to watch it any longer.

Thankfully, Ruben Amorim was in the position of being able to take action, and called for a 32nd minute immediate substitution, hooking Joshua Zirkzee, with the team 2-0 down.

There was a lot of focus on Zirkzee being the one to come off, he will have felt singled out, but the real boost was bringing Kobbie Mainoo on.

United immediately improved, with Mainoo’s tenacity helping the team to get a foothold in the game.

• READ MORE: Who is Kobbie Mainoo? Inside the life of Man Utd’s rising star, including his parents, brother and school

Kobbie Mainoo impact praised

The change stopped the bleeding, United lost the game 2-0, but the final hour of the game salvaged some pride, when it was shaping up as a hall of shame performance to rival some of the worst seen in recent years at Old Trafford.

Mainoo’s performance was praised by former Manchester United academy talent Danny Webber, working as a pundit for MUTV.

He picked out his eagerness to get into pockets of space and keep possession as crucial to the improvement, along with a bigger willingness to fight for the ball.

Webber said: “When Kobbie came on, I thought he was bright for us…. he came out fighting, he wanted the ball.”

“You start to get your little wins as a result of competing with more vigor. And Kobbie, he was in there. He was all over Tonali, he was making challenges. He wants it, and it sets the tone then.

“But that’s got to be the tone from the beginning of the game,” he warned.

It’s unclear why Mainoo did not start the game. There was a minor injury doubt after the Wolves match, but he looked fully fit when he came on.

United pressure fails to pay off

United were unable to convert improved play under Mainoo into goals, thanks to a combination of wasteful finishing a bad luck.

Remarkably, United could have been level at 2-2 at half-time, with Rasmus Hojlund and Casemiro missing chances.

Harry Maguire hit the post in the second half, but Newcastle were able to hold on, with United’s threat changing as the game went on.

Webber added: “You need those chances to hit the back of the net to continue building the momentum. We were better second half, but again, you know, we got beat. So we’re not where we want to be.”