Confirmed: Why Kobbie Mainoo is not in Manchester United squad at Aston Villa | OneFootball

Midfielder has been linked with January transfer away from Old Trafford

Kobbie Mainoo was surprisingly absent from the Manchester United squad at Aston Villa on Sunday.

Mainoo’s half-brother wore a controversial ‘Free Mainoo Mainoo’ t-shirt at the Bournemouth game on Monday, amid continued speculation that he could leave in January.

Napoli want to sign Mainoo but he was expected to get a chance to prove his worth to Amorim at Villa Park.

But Mainoo was not in the squad and United confirmed he “picked up a small injury” in training on Saturday.

Amorim said ahead of the Villa game: "He got an injury in the last training.

"After training, he went to the doctor. He got something in his calf.

"We are going to assess but he is out of this game.

"Of course [it is bad timing], not just for the team but for him to have this problem. These are reminders that we need to focus on everything we can control and leave the rest to the destiny.

"He is going to be fine in the few weeks, I think, I don't know. Let's focus on the players that we have and are ready to play."

Amorim this week urged Mainoo to shut out the “nonsense and noise” over his future and told him to focus on his football.

“Kobbie needs to fight for his job,” said Amorim. “I think that it's not a bad thing to be on the bench of Manchester United when you are 20-years-old.

“I remember Ronaldo was on the bench, Rooney was on the bench sometimes, Veron was not playing.

“I'm not trying to say to Kobbie, 'you are a big player here, let's put him on the bench to show something'.

“No, what I'm saying is the opposite. I'm just not putting Kobbie in sometimes because I understand that this is not the right guy to start the game. Maybe the next game, Sunday, he is going to start.

“If he plays well, is going to show everyone 'this guy cannot take me out of the team', and I will be so happy.

“So I don't care. I don't want to show nothing to anyone. I'm just saying that I'm trying to win games and to show to the players that if you do the things right, you will play no matter what the name.'

Amorim has said he is keen to avoid any more drama about Mainoo’s half-bother’s t-shirt.

“I had the situation in Sporting Lisbon,” he said. “My brother wrote something on the internet, and I have to answer for that. My explanation is that he has his life, he has his opinion, and it's nothing to do with me. So I will do the same with Kobbie.

“He's responsible for his acts and his act was to play well in the last game, I'm just focused on that. 'So let's continue in trying to avoid the nonsense and the noise. I just want to want to help the team to win and to help Kobbie to be a better player.”