It is one week since Manchester United completed a move to sign midfielder Sofyan Amrabat on transfer deadline day.
Manchester United needed a midfielder on transfer deadline day, with the central area of the team undone too easily in the opening games of the season.
Too much was being asked of Casemiro, however, these gaps were not shown up so easily at the start of pre-season when Kobbie Mainoo was making his mark.
The teenager was outstanding in wins against Leeds, Lyon, and Arsenal, before injury struck against Real Madrid. He is still out and may not return until mid-October.
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Kobbie Mainoo will get opportunity
It is fair to say the injury did Kobbie Mainoo no favours. There was a genuine chance he would have been allowed to start the season for Manchester United.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has already promised a role for the teenager when he returns.
He told a press conference last month: “For the winter [that] is coming up, he absolutely will have his games.”
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Sofyan Amrabat move does do Mainoo a favour
One way to look at Sofyan Amrabat’s arrival is to say that Kobbie Mainoo’s path has been blocked, a little, and the path to becoming an automatic starter has been made more difficult.
But actually, it works in Kobbie Mainoo’s favour. It takes away the pressure and expectation on the teenager to come in and instantly fix Manchester United’s midfield.
Mainoo may be capable of doing what fans hope. However, it’s important to remember the teenager has never started a Premier League game. Let’s calm the expectations a little. Whatever he contributes will be a bonus.
Sofyan Amrabat can handle the pressure of steadying the ship. By time Mainoo is fit again and comes in, United might be back on track, and on a winning run.