Three things Kobbie Mainoo did for Manchester United that will have impressed Thomas Tuchel ahead of the World Cup

Kobbie Mainoo made his fifth consecutive start for Manchester United in the match against West Ham, and even though it was a difficult evening for the club, he continued to impress.

Michael Carrick has quickly come to rely on Kobbie Mainoo, making him one of his regulars early on.

That’s a far cry from when Ruben Amorim would give him limited minutes just to keep fans happy, even though that didn’t really work.

It’s strange that he was left out for so long without explanation, especially now that he’s shown Amorim up more than once. We might never find out why it happened, but Mainoo has already made it clear who was right.

But against West Ham, this one felt like it belonged to a different manager altogether—one who had previously overlooked Mainoo and probably knew exactly why the midfielder played the way he did.

Kobbie Mainoo catches the eye on a difficult night for Manchester United

The result puts an end to United’s winning streak, but given how well Nuno Espirito Santo’s side defended, it might still be seen as a valuable point.

Mainoo, though, was one of the few bright spots. He put in another solid performance, with England manager Thomas Tuchel watching from the stands – likely there to keep tabs on the 20-year-old midfielder.

With World Cup selection decisions coming up, Mainoo’s current form makes a strong case for his inclusion in Tuchel’s squad.

Even though it wasn’t his best game, there were still a few things Mainoo did that would have caught Tuchel’s attention and strengthened his World Cup credentials.

Mainoo kept things moving in midfield with his calm passing and decision-making. He kept possession ticking over and distributed the ball efficiently to United’s more attacking players.

He also showed his energy without the ball. Mainoo worked hard across the pitch, picking up loose balls and never shying away from a challenge.

Mainoo almost added another assist to his tally when he set up Casemiro with a pinpoint cross, only for the goal to be disallowed due to a narrow offside call. Even without standing out overall, those moments highlighted qualities that could be valuable for England moving forward.

Kobbie Mainoo stands out for Manchester United despite difficult result