Manchester United: Ruben Amorim issues Kobbie Mainoo update after X-rated Paul Scholes rant | OneFootball

Academy graduate reportedly prepared to leave on loan amid dwindling minutes

Ruben Amorim has refused to offer Kobbie Mainoo any guarantees as the Manchester United youngster grows increasingly frustrated with his lack of playing time.

"I just want to win,” he declared. “I don't look who it is, I don't care about that - I just try to put the best players on the pitch.

“You have [Manuel] Ugarte that played two games. One of them, Casemiro was out. Bruno [Fernandes] is always fit- he's the guy that is playing in his position so maybe it has [something] to do with that."

Through and through: Kobbie Mainoo has played for Manchester United since he was seven years old

Manchester United via Getty Imag

He continued, adding that he understood the media furore surrounding Mainoo’s situation: “Of course I understand [why you ask about Mainoo], and my job is to answer, but I'm trying to answer always the same thing, and you ask me always the same thing," he said.

“I understand what you are saying. You love Kobbie, he starts for England. But that doesn't mean that I need to put Kobbie [in] when I feel that I shouldn't put Kobbie [in], so it's my decision.”

Pressed as to whether Mainoo could be handed more chances when some of his team-mates leave for AFCON, Amorim added: "I don’t know. I don’t know. It’s the same question. I don’t know what is going to happen. It depends.

“If I see in the training it is the best thing, I will put it. That is the only way I know how to respond to that."

Amorim’s use of academy talent - or lack thereof - has come in for plenty of criticism. Man United legend Paul Scholes dubbed his man management as “bulls***” on social media, writing: “The kid is being ruined, not being played in a team that can't control a game of football. Hate seeing home grown players leave but it's probably best for him now.”

Mainoo has been marginalised by Amorim, while highly-rated 18-year-old Shea Lacey has made matchday squads but is yet to come off the bench.

The Portuguese suggested he did not have the quality to come off the bench ahead of other first-team players: “You are asking me, why I don't put [Shea] Lacey to play when I have other guys that are internationals and also they are in the bench.

“So, I try to put the best guys, the prepared guys for this moment of the club, and try to win a game. That's the only thing, guys.”