Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has delivered his verdict on starlet Kobbie Mainoo.
The Red Devils will face West Ham United at Old Trafford in the Premier League tonight.
Amorim was asked about Mainoo potentially getting more chances with December being a busy month.
He said (via ManUtd.com): “We’ll see. We could talk about Kobbie. We could talk about [Manuel] Ugarte, he’s also not playing.
“Josh is playing because we had a lot of injuries and we need to be also clear with that. And football is like that. You just need to be ready when the opportunity comes.
“When the opportunity comes, again, I just want to win. I don’t look at faces. I just want to win, and I will choose the best ones.
“You just need to be ready, and you will be fine. If you are ready, if you play well, I’m not going to take it [away] from the team for any reason.
“I just choose for every game, the best starting XI and Kobbie is the same thing with the other guys.”
Mainoo could start vs West Ham
The 20-year-old has struggled to find game time with Amorim preferring a midfield partnership of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes.
Due to lack of European fixtures and early knockout from the Carabao Cup, the head coach has not managed to rotate the team.
Mainoo’s only start of the season came in the embarrassing defeat to Grimsby Town.
United will host West Ham today in a rare midweek fixture and this could open the doors for fringe players.
Casemiro and Mason Mount played 90 minutes in the 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday.
At 33, expecting the highest level of intensity again from Casemiro is too much of an ask.
Mount played the entire game for the first time in a United shirt.
He has had his injury concerns and Amorim must look to manage his minutes.
Bruno Fernandes also picked up a knock against Palace and could be one of the two players who are doubtful for today’s clash.
Mainoo could replace any of these players in the starting XI.
He will have the Old Trafford crowd to support him and the onus will be on him to show his talent to the Portuguese head coach.
Stats from Fotmob.com