Manchester United vs Crystal Palace team news and match preview
Man Utd have a severely reduced fixture schedule this season and far fewer matches to play.
Ruben Amorim believes it is a 'little bit unfair' that there are still regular questions about Kobbie Mainoo's lack of playing time for Manchester United this season, when his teammates are also in a similar situation.
The 20-year-old is unhappy with his reduced role in the United squad and asked to leave his boyhood club on loan during the final days of the summer window. Mainoo has yet to start a Premier League match this season and has played just 260 minutes in nine appearances across all competitions.
Mainoo is in direct competition with club captain Bruno Fernandes for the same starting position and is therefore unlikely to get a chance unless there is an injury or suspension. He has not featured in an England squad under Thomas Tuchel and will not form part of their World Cup squad next summer unless he stars regularly at club level.
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Amorim believes Mainoo coverage is 'unfair'
Kobbie Mainoo could look to leave Manchester United on loan again in the January transfer window, but his boyhood club have no plans to let him leave when they have so few midfield options. The 20-year-old has suffered more than most from their reduced fixture schedule, and United could play as 40 competitive matches this season compared with the 60 they managed during the last campaign.
Asked about Mainoo's role ahead of the trip to face Crystal Palace this weekend, Ruben Amorim told reporters: "Yeah, but this is a team sport. You talk a lot about Kobbie, I have more players in my squad that they want to be in the World Cup. So it's a little bit unfair," the United head coach said.
"I put Kobbie because he's really good near the box to have a guy like Bruno and him, they can find spaces near the box and score goals. So that was my idea. So I will use Kobbie and the rest of them to try to help the team to win. So I'm not just focused on one individual. I want to help all my players, and I know how special it is for a player to play World Cup. My job is to win as a team and to focus as a team. So Kobbie Mainoo is in the same situation as the other guys, if I feel that is the best thing to win the game, I will do it. So that's it.
Asked if he still saw Mainoo as a starter in his side, Amorim added: "I see him as a starter like the other guys. I just have to make a choice. And then in the end, it's not been Kobbie, but in the future, I don't know. again. I always think the same thing with Casemiro. He was not playing, and then he played. I just want to win games. I don't care who he's playing. I just want to win games."
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