Manchester United have suffered an injury blow ahead of their trip to North London to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
According to club insider SullyTalkz, midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has picked up a knock, ruling him out of the game.
The England international has now been replaced in the travelling squad by Jack Fletcher, son of club legend Darren Fletcher.
Fletcher’s inclusion comes as no surprise, with a previous report stating that he and Shea Lacey are the two academy players closest to breaking into the first team.
Mainoo has yet to start a league game this season, as he is behind Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in the pecking order for the two central midfield roles.
Manager Ruben Amorim also does not trust him to play as one of the two number 10s, which are now designated for summer signing Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha.
Since starting the Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town, Mainoo has only played for 138 minutes, underlining his struggles.
He is unhappy with the lack of game time and could leave United in the January transfer window, with clubs both within and outside the Premier League circling around him.
Given his limited minutes, his absence will not be a significant loss for United unless they suffer another unexpected injury before or during the game.
The Red Devils are aiming to extend their four-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League when they face Spurs, who they have not beaten since October 2022.
However, there is optimism that they can end their poor form against the North London side in Saturday’s showdown.