MUTV analysts shared the same view on Kobbie Mainoo’s display in the Manchester derby

Follow us on Google Discover

Ruben Amorim’s arrival at Old Trafford has not made things easy for Kobbie Mainoo, who has had a hard time breaking into the starting side.

He was left out of the starting line-up once again for the Manchester derby, watching on as United suffered a 3-0 defeat away to City.

But he did get his chance later in the match and made good use of it.

Mainoo came off the bench in place of Noussair Mazraoui in the 62nd minute. Even though United were already well behind, he managed to add some energy to their play.

Kobbie Mainoo stands out in Manchester derby

Mainoo entered the match with United already trailing by two goals. Just six minutes later, a defensive mistake saw them concede a third.

Despite the difficult situation, he managed to make a positive impression. Fans took note of his efforts and praised his impact.

In particular, United looked sharper and more organised in the final 20 minutes, with Mainoo playing an important role in that improvement.

He completed all 18 of his passes, won three out of three duels, and created two chances for teammates during his time on the pitch.

Former United defender John O’Shea told MUTV he was impressed with Mainoo’s performance after he came on.

“Kobbie had a very good impact. He’s staking a claim to get into the team.”

MUTV pundit Danny Webber added: “Kobbie made an improvement when he came on. He got on the ball, he kept it moving. There are odd little positives in there.”

• READ MORE: Marcus Rashford’s ‘wonder’ moment for Barcelona sparks rave reviews from Spanish media

Mainoo hoping for more chances under Amorim

Amorim has spoken about his plans to help Mainoo develop, but there has not been much evidence of this in his early selections.

Mainoo has seen just 73 minutes of Premier League action so far this season, a number that is far too low given what he showed last year.

If he is going to improve, he will need regular minutes, and not just came appearances off the bench.

United’s next match is a home clash with Chelsea, and after Mainoo’s impact off the bench against City, there is a strong argument for giving him a start.