There are only four academy players in the current Man United squad but only one has a realistic chance of playing time.
Mainoo came on at half-time against Burnley
Mainoo came on at half-time against Burnley
Ruben Amorim has promised to prolong Manchester United's record of including an academy player in every first team matchday squad dating back to October 1937.
United only have four academy members in their current first team squad following the sale of Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea. Tom Heaton, 39, has not played since February 2023, Tyler Fredricson is likely to struggle for playing time after his first-half performance in the League Cup defeat at Grimsby Town, Kobbie Mainoo has started in 16 of Amorim's 46 matches in charge and 17-year-old striker Chido Obi is yet to be included in a matchday squad this term.
Mainoo, 20, wanted to leave on loan last month but was blocked by the club amid a shortage of specialist midfielders. The Mancunian scored the winner in the 2024 FA Cup final against Manchester City and could start in Sunday's derby at the Etihad in the absence of injured duo Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha.
The derby will mark the 4,326th consecutive United match with an academy player in their squad. "I don't want to be the guy that broke that record," Amorim stressed. "If you see the past of Manchester United, it's built on kids that grew up here and stayed here for a long time. I think that should be our goal in the future. So I will try to maintain that."
United were unbeaten against City across three derbies last season and won at the Etihad in Amorim's seventh match in charge through two late goals.
City suffered their first trophyless season since Pep Guardiola's first at the club in 2016-17 and dropped to third in the table, having won four successive Premier League titles. They have spent more than £300m on signings this calendar year but have lost two of their first three league games and head into the derby below United.
"It's a top team with the best coach in the league," Amorim added. "A team that is really hard to imagine how they are going to play.
"They change all the time. But we are prepared for that.
"And we believe in our team. And I have that feeling. So it will be a very good game. We know what to do, we have one more training. The table, in the moment, it doesn't matter. I'm just worried about maintaining the same principles. The way we fight for every ball. The small details that sometimes we drop a little bit. Not in these games.
"So I'm more comfortable in these kinds of games. But we will be ready against a very, very good team."
Amorim is convinced United have improved since they defeated City nine months ago. "I think we are a better team. Any aspect, if you see the data, we are a different team. We are ready to play the game. But we have to show onside. So I think we are a better team."
Amorim's close friend, Hugo Viana, is now the City sporting director. Viana and Amorim worked together at Sporting and the prospect of a reunion at the Etihad was floated before United hired Amorim to replace Erik ten Hag in October.
Viana and Amorim still socialise but their friendship will have no bearing on the weekend's game. "No, it has no influence. We have different jobs, we have different clubs. We have dinner all the time and don't talk about football.
"I'm red, he's blue. But we are really, really close friends. That will not change. So I hope to win Sunday and that's it."