Manchester United great Roy Keane has sounded off on a family member of one Old Trafford star, while Bryan Mbeumo is one of three stars off to the Africa Cup of Nations
Roy Keane looking angry on the Stick to Football podcast
Roy Keane has told Kobbie Mainoo to fight for his spot at Manchester United
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Manchester United are entering a very tricky portion of their campaign after three players departed for the Africa Cup of Nations. As such, the club could do with as few distractions as possible, but not everyone close to the squad has complied.
In fact, United icon Roy Keane has described his disdain following a recent development in the Kobbie Mainoo storyline. That's after the midfielder's half-sibling was spotted wearing a divisive piece of clothing during the latest Premier League fixture.
And Ruben Amorim may need to lean on the youngster in the coming weeks after Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo jetted off to Morocco. Mirror Football breaks down some of the most recent headlines around Old Trafford so you don't have to.
Keane blasts Mainoo's brother
Amid the furore concerning Mainoo's playing time (or lack thereof), the midfielder has remained largely silent on the matter. The same can't be said for half-brother Jordan Mainoo-Hames, however, after he watched Monday's 4-4 draw against Bournemouth while wearing a 'Free Kobbie Mainoo' T-shirt.
Mainoo came off the bench for the final half hour in what was a topsy-turvy encounter, during which the lead changed hands three times. Almost halfway through the Premier League campaign, Mainoo is still waiting on his first start of the season.
The stunt might have gone under the radar had Mainoo-Hames, a former Love Island contestant, not made the decision to pose in front of the Old Trafford turf and posted the image on Instagram. Word of the incident eventually got back to club legend Keane, who addressed it on the Stick to Football podcast.
The Irishman asked: "Are you telling me that he can't sit there for another six months? He might think the manager's on his way out in the summer. He's 20 years of age, what's wrong with sitting and learning your trade? And even if he's not getting a chance, we've all had to do it.
"Sometimes a manager is on your case and what you have to do is prove them wrong. Jamie [Carragher] made a point that he never felt like a regular at Liverpool, I never felt like that at United. Every day is your chance to prove yourself to the manager and when the manager is picking his team, [he goes] 'He has to play'. He's got to get that in his mindset.
Kobbie Mainoo's half-brother Jordan wearing a T-shirt which says 'Free Kobbie Mainoo'
Jordan Mainoo-Hames' stunt may not have helped his half-brother
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"And when he's got his idiot of a brother doing all that... we shouldn't even be giving that kind of stuff the time of day. Sometimes you're just surrounded by idiots, especially the families."
Keane was open to the prospect of Mainoo going out on loan but challenged the prospect to prove Amorim wrong at Old Trafford instead. Amorim, meanwhile, has said he's be open to sitting down for a discussion with the player if approached.
Mbeumo fears early AFCON exit
Many a United fan, and likely Amorim himself, is wondering just how the club will fare during the absence of their AFCON stars. And there's little doubt Mbeumo will be the biggest presence missing from their right flank.
However, it's perhaps Mbeumo himself who should feel concern after a supercomputer tipped his Cameroon side for an early departure. The model, which was devised by AFCON betting experts at BookmakersCameroun.com, forecast the Indomitable Lions will fail to get out of Group F after facing the Ivory Coast, Gabon and Mozambique.
Bryan Mbeumo of Manchester United looks glum
Bryan Mbuemo will be thoroughly missed during his spell at the Africa Cup of Nations
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Mbeumo's absence would therefore be relatively short, and he may even be back for the fixture against Leeds on January 4 as a result. Former United defender Paul Parker recently put into words the effect Mbeumo's absence will have on the team, with no other player at Amorim's disposal able to fulfil the same duties.
"It is impossible for Man United to cope with the loss of Mbeumo when he leaves for the AFCON," said two-time Premier League champion Parker. "They simply can't. They have no one close to his level, so they will struggle without him.
"He is going to be a massive miss, and I can't see how they can do anything without him. We have to remember that he is one of the best players in the league, and he is definitely the best player from Manchester United."
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