Roy Keane Gives Verdict on Kobbie Mainoo’s Future at Manchester United

On October 19, Manchester United produced their best performance of the season, defeating Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield, with goals from Bryan Mbuemo and Harry Maguire. There were plenty of positives to take from the game, but England international Kobbie Mainoo was once again reduced to a cameo role, coming off the bench. When quizzed in the Sky Sports studio about the midfielder’s future, Manchester United legend Roy Keane gave his honest verdict.

Roy Keane Shares Verdict on Kobbie Mainoo’s Manchester United Future

Limited Role Raises Questions About Mainoo’s Future

The future looked bright for Mainoo when he first broke into the starting XI at Old Trafford and the England international team. Under United boss Ruben Amorim, the midfielder has been mainly restricted to substitute appearances, which led to rumours this summer that he wanted to leave on loan.

When asked about Mainoo’s future at United, Keane gave his honest verdict:

“It obviously seems to be a problem for Mainoo getting into this team,” said Keane to Sky Sports. The word coming out is they don’t think he can cover the ground that quickly, but if you look at Man Utd’s other midfielders they’ve got, they’re not great at that either. 

“As a young player, he has to suck that up and work hard, and when he gets a chance, he has to take it.

“A young player with good potential cannot be guaranteed a place in United’s team. But it will come down to the player himself. Your job every day, every week is to make sure the manager puts you in the team.”

Kobbie Mainoo’s Opportunities and Challenges Under Ruben Amorim

Hinting at a crucial upcoming period for Mainoo, Keane said: “If the manager deep down doesn’t fancy him? I don’t know. We will find that out in the next few weeks. Because if he doesn’t fancy him, he might have to move him on.”

“But Mainoo’s got that opportunity. He got some plaudits when he first came in; he was involved in the England squad. He has to get back to that.

“He’s had opportunities recently, and when he’s come on and got opportunities, he just looks a bit short for me. I wouldn’t be scratching my head thinking: Why is he not in the team? I can see why he is not picking him at this moment in time,” added Keane, seemingly backing Mainoo’s exclusion.

Kobbie Mainoo is adept at retaining possession in tight areas, often dropping a shoulder and skating away from the opposition, making him a vital outlet for the United defence.

While his strengths shine, there are also weaknesses that have seen him left out. His movement is often criticised, making it easier for the opposition to mark him when he’s static for too long. His defensive positional awareness needs improvement, as lapses can leave the Red Devils exposed defensively.

His ability is clear, but if he can improve his defensive awareness and movement, he could still become a vital player for Amorim.