Kobbie Mainoo has gone from being a Manchester United and England regular to struggling for minutes under Ruben Amorim.
It was just over a year ago that Kobbie Mainoo starred in Euro 2024 for England following his remarkable breakthrough at Manchester United.
Kobbie Mainoo was only called up to the Three Lions squad for the first time in March 2024 – mere months before heading to the tournament. He went from an option on the bench to a starter in the final.
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This summer, Mainoo was left out by Thomas Tuchel, and the Carrington graduate is yet to find a way back into the national setup.
With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, time is running out, and his biggest opposition is United target Elliot Anderson.
Elliot Anderson could replace Mainoo for club and country
In the recent international breaks, Anderson has been thriving for England, and now Tuchel has publicly stated he is at the top of his pecking order in midfield.
“Elliot at the moment is an elite football player with the right attitude and talent,” Tuchel said, as quoted by The Independent.
It feels inevitable that Anderson will travel with England to the World Cup. It is hard to find space for Mainoo in a midfield that includes Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and another United target Adam Wharton.
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Not only is Anderson threatening Mainoo’s England chances, but he could also end up pushing him further down the pecking order at Old Trafford.
Reports suggest United could sign Anderson for £75 million, with Ineos potentially moving for the 23-year-old star as early as January.
Kobbie Mainoo is fighting for his future at Man United
Ruben Amorim has been the first to admit that Mainoo deserves more minutes at United this season, but it has been hard to squeeze him into the line-up with no European fixtures.
Bruno Fernandes is ahead of Mainoo in the midfield pecking order, and the United captain is so consistently fit and available that Mainoo has been starved of opportunities.
With just over 200 days to go until the World Cup begins, Mainoo is running out of time to impress. It’s easy to see why he is open to a loan move in January in a desperate attempt to change Tuchel’s mind for the summer.
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But Mainoo is also fighting for his future at United, and he deserves an opportunity to prove he can thrive in Amorim’s system.
With a hectic winter fixture list right around the corner, Mainoo will hope he gets a shot at turning things around.
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