Phil Jones explains real reason Ruben Amorim doesn’t want to start Kobbie Mainoo | Football

Former Manchester United star Phil Jones believes Kobbie Mainoo’s fitness levels are the main reason Ruben Amorim is so reluctant to hand him a starting role.

Mainoo was an unused substitute in United’s opening two games of the Premier League season against Arsenal and Fulham, prompting the 20-year-old to request a loan move away from Old Trafford.

Amorim recently revealed the academy graduate is now in direct competition with club captain Bruno Fernandes for one of his two midfield roles with Mainoo concerned over his first-team chances ahead of England’s World Cup campaign next summer.

United blocked those efforts to leave on loan with Mainoo coming off the bench on Saturday in the win over Burnley having started against Grimsby midweek.

Mainoo made a seamless transition to senior football during his breakout campaign in 2023-24, becoming a midfield fixture for both club and country. But since Amorim’s arrival in Manchester last November, he has often been one of the first players to be sacrificed when Amorim has sought to make changes.

Last season, Mainoo competing the full 90 minutes in just five of 18 league matches under the Portuguese coach, taken off before the 75th minute on eight of those occasions.

United hero Jones suggests those concerns over Mainoo’s ability to ‘get around the pitch’ across 90 minutes are a major factor behind his lack of game time.

‘Kobbie is such a huge talent. I like the way he takes the ball and I think he can play in that 6 or 8 position,’ Jones told Metro courtesy of FreeBets.com, the home of the best betting sites.

‘The question marks people will have or the manager might have is his ability to get around the pitch and how many minutes he can last for. When he does start a game he will predominantly always come off after 60 or 65 minutes.

‘If you play him there with the right type of person in there, he is a hell of a player. I think he’s a brilliant player, very humble, very down to earth.’

Jones does not see a situation this season where Mainoo and Fernandes start together unless there are injuries elsewhere – a situation facing Amorim with both Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount limping off against Burnley.

Fernandes’ presence in central midfield is part of wider concerns Jones shares about key personnel playing out of position, fearing as many as four stars would be of better use in their natural roles.

‘If they [Mainoo and Fernandes] play together it will be due to an injury,’ Jones said. ‘I don’t think the manager likes having them play together for the reason I mentioned earlier, both of them are not the most mobile. Kobbie is sharp and strong but over a 90 minute game, that’s where the manager is looking and saying we might need someone else.

‘Looking back on it, imagine playing Kobbie with Scott McTominay in here with Bruno higher. What a combo that would be. But then there is the problem we have signed [Matheus] Cunha and [Bryan] Mbeumo who play the same position as Buno so fitting them all in is really difficult. He obviously likes Mason Mount as well and then you have got Sesko as well as the 9. So, I think he needs to find the right balance and find the system and the personnel that really suits Man United.

Jones continued: ‘The other day you have [Luke] Shaw who’s a left back playing in the left of a back three. So not his natural position. You had Diogo Dalot who is a right-back playing left wing-back.

‘You have got Bruno who is a 10 or a 8 playing as a 6 so not a position you want to see him on the pitch. He can have a huge impact there but it is not his natural position. Then you had Cunha as a false 9. Again, he can play there but it is not his natural role.

‘There is so much ability across the pitch capable of going toe-to-toe with anyone on their day which is something I genuinely believe but not playing in their natural positions. they have got to get the balance.’

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