Man Utd youngster Kobbie Mainoo has impressed since being restored to the starting team by Michael Carrick.
Mainoo and Carrick after the Manchester derby victory.(Image: 2026 Manchester United FC)
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Kobbie Mainoo shared a Manchester United-related photo on social media for the first time in a while after the Manchester derby when posting an image of himself in the tunnel alongside Michael Carrick.
"Believe that," was the caption. Ruben Amorim did not believe in Mainoo, but the midfielder's performances in the last few weeks have confirmed it was criminal to overlook him.
The lack of United imagery on Mainoo's Instagram may not have seemed like a big deal, but it was his way of expressing his frustration. Mainoo could not speak out against Amorim, so he sent a message by posting leisure and personal training photos, just not many of himself in United colours.
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Mainoo being active for his 3.5million followers on Instagram again, revelling in wins against Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham, is a sign of his delight with his improved situation.
It couldn't have got much worse for Mainoo. He did not start a Premier League game under Amorim this season, dashing his hopes of playing at the World Cup, and there seemed to be no way out.
United blocked Mainoo's request to leave on loan in the final week of the summer transfer window, and a new request was expected to be submitted for January. Thankfully for Mainoo, Amorim was sacked.
Mainoo was determined to force his way back into the team at the start of the campaign. The academy graduate wanted to prove Amorim wrong and reviewed his lifestyle to improve. That led to him changing his private chef at home, and training with a personal coach during the international breaks.
The youngster worked with a private football performance coach during the September break. "Everyone can get faster. We can show you how," is the motto of the coach he worked with.
During the October international break, Mainoo underwent a private warm-weather training camp in Marbella, Spain, working at the Arroyo En Medio sports complex to maintain sharpness.
A close friend accompanied him on the trip and they were pictured wearing an England shirt with Mainoo's name on the back. Mainoo was highly motivated to start consistently for United again, but it's understood the aim of representing his country at the World Cup was a huge driving factor behind his determination.
Mainoo warmed the bench with Amorim in charge. (Image: AFP or licensors)
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However, while Mainoo trained in Marbella, England played against Wales and Latvia, games in which Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson enhanced his Three Lions credentials.
Thomas Tuchel warned that Mainoo needed to start regularly with United to be considered for a recall to the England squad. He described Anderson as a "very complete midfielder."
Mainoo started in the Euro 2024 final against Spain. At that tournament, Gareth Southgate said England hadn't "really had a player like him." Meanwhile, Anderson was a periphery squad member at Newcastle.
The Stockport-born Mainoo watched his international career regress as players he was well ahead of progressed past him. He knew he needed to convince Amorim, but his chances remained limited.
Amorim handed Mainoo his first start of the season against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup, and United crashed out of the competition after a shocking performance at Blundell Park.
The Portuguese explained that Mainoo was competing with Bruno Fernandes for a Premier League start, but there was a watershed moment against Brentford in October when Casemiro was suspended, which seemed like the perfect opportunity to give Mainoo his first top-flight start of the campaign.
Instead, Amorim selected Manuel Ugarte. Mainoo was introduced in the 66th minute of the game, and the 2,000 travelling fans at Gtech Community Stadium roared him onto the pitch.
Mainoo started in the Euro 2024 final.(Image: 2024 Eurasia Sport Images)
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The England international was consistently overlooked by Amorim, and further cracks began to appear in December after the 1-1 draw against West Ham. "Who is the man we have to put in the offence?" asked Amorim in reply to a question about his conservative substitutions. "Kobbie Mainoo," was the response.
Amorim replaced a defender with another defender, but he laughed at the question. Mainoo confirmed he was aware when he liked a post about the press conference exchange on social media. Amorim was laughing because he was tired of Mainoo questions, however, it did not look good.
Darren Fletcher put an arm around Mainoo when he was appointed as caretaker. “He seems in a good place," Fletcher said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Brighton. "Kobbie doesn't give you much [indication], so you wouldn't know if he was in a good place or not so good!
"He's like that, that's his natural way. But I know him well, and I've known him for a long time, and I've seen him around the building and around different places, throughout the season. Not so much about the building, but you see people around. And I've had conversations with him, in general.
"But he's in a good place. I know Kobbie, and I think he knows me, and he knows Travis Binnion, so he’s comfortable with his environment. He's hard to read, Kobbie, so that remains to be seen."
Carrick said Mainoo is "quite straight-faced and doesn't give you an awful lot" when he took over as interim head coach. Mainoo has done his talking on the pitch in Carrick's three games in charge so far.
The 20-year-old covered more ground than any other United player against City and Arsenal. He was important against Fulham, making the most tackles in the game and winning six of his seven duels.
Binnion's promotion to the first-team backroom staff will have been warmly welcomed by Mainoo, as Fletcher suggested. Binnion won the FA Youth Cup in 2021/22 with Mainoo at the heart of the midfield. He described him as "brave and elite with the ball" when he sat down with the MEN in 2023.
The 39-year-old knows Mainoo better than any coach at Carrington, having worked with him at Under-18 and Under-21 level, which is bound to be helpful as he finds his feet again.
Mainoo pictured against Fulham.
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Mainoo has benefited from the rekindling of his relationship with Casemiro. A source previously admitted that Mainoo "loves" playing with Casemiro, and that has been clear over the last few weeks.
The feeling appears mutual with the Brazilian, who recently commented a love heart on Mainoo's social media, and the pair were spotted chest-pumping during the celebrations against Arsenal.
The youngster is hungry to prove a point and will have an outside chance of making England's World Cup squad if he continues to excel, and United will revisit contract talks with his camp, which are overdue.
Mainoo last signed a contract with United in 2023, meaning his role in the squad has not been fairly reflected by his wages. Although United opened talks over a new deal in 2024 and an agreement was close, negotiations stalled, Amorim was appointed, and the prospect of fresh terms was shelved.
The performance-related bonuses in Mainoo's contract have been triggered, but he is among the lowest-paid players at the club. Mainoo is in line for a pay increase. He is a talent United cannot afford to lose.