England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has not started a single Premier League match for Manchester United this season and Paul Scholes has hit out at Ruben Amorim's handling of the 20-year-old
Kieran King Sports Writer
12:07, 05 Dec 2025
Paul Scholes has slammed Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim
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Paul Scholes has slammed Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim(Image: Getty Images)
Paul Scholes has branded Ruben Amorim's handling of Kobbie Mainoo as "bull****" in a scathing critique of the youngster's lack of playing time at Manchester United this season.
The 20-year-old hasn't been handed a single Premier League start for United in 2025/26. He's managed just 171 minutes in the top flight and remained an unused substitute during Thursday's dreary 1-1 stalemate with West Ham at Old Trafford.
Last week, Amorim claimed he views Mainoo "a starter" despite failing to give him a single league start from kick-off this campaign. The England international did get the nod in the Carabao Cup clash at Grimsby in August - a match that ended in disappointment.
"I see him as a starter like the other players," Amorim said last Friday. "I just have to make a choice and then in the end, it's not been Kobbie.
"In the future, I don't know. Again, I always think the same thing with Casemiro. [He] was not playing and then he plays. I just want to win games. I don't care who is playing."
Following Amorim's decision not to even introduce Mainoo against West Ham, former United midfielder Scholes turned to Instagram to express his anger at the Reds boss.
"Bulls***," Scholes wrote in response to Amorim's remarks. "The kid is being ruined, not being played in a team that can't control a game of football. Hate seeing home grown players leave but it's probably best for him now, enough is enough."
Kobbie Mainoo has struggled for game time at Manchester United this season
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Kobbie Mainoo has struggled for game time at Manchester United this season(Image: Getty Images)
Scholes has since removed the post about Mainoo, who was overlooked while Mason Mount, Manuel Ugarte, Patrick Dorgu, Leny Yoro and Lisandro Martinez were all introduced before United shipped a late equaliser against the Hammers on Thursday.
The result leaves United languishing in eighth place after managing just one victory in their previous five league fixtures. They had snapped a three-match winless streak by defeating Crystal Palace on Sunday, but Amorim's team couldn't build on that encouraging triumph at Selhurst Park.
Diogo Dalot put United ahead against West Ham in the 58th minute, but the Red Devils failed to see out the victory as Soungoutou Magassa drew the Hammers level in the dying stages.
"Yeah, it's frustrating, it's angry," Amorim said, offering a brief summary of his feelings after the West Ham clash. "That's it."
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As for Mainoo, speculation continues to swirl around a potential January departure from Old Trafford. Napoli maintain their interest in securing the gifted young midfielder and are mulling over a potential swoop for him next month.