‘With us it’s always a tough match’ – Ruben Amorim on Wolves and Kobbie Mainoo’s game time | OneFootball

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim says Bruno Fernandes’ availability is a big reason for Kobbie Mainoo’s lack of game time this season.

Mainoo, who has not yet started a league game this season, was on the bench for the 1-1 draw with West Ham but did not manage to make it onto the pitch and has only played 170 minutes of league football this term.

Asked whether he could see why Mainoo might be feeling discouraged, Amorim said: “I see it, I see it and I just want to win. I try to put the players, I don’t look who it is, I don’t care about that. I’m just trying to put the best players on the pitch.

“You have Ugarte that played two games, one of them, Casemiro, was out. Bruno is always fit, he’s the guy that is doing Mainoo’s position, so maybe it has to do with that.”

The United manager was then asked if the Africa Cup of Nations could be an opportunity, with players missing, for Mainoo to get back in the team, but replied: “I don’t know, guys. I don’t know. It’s the same question all the time. I don’t know. I don’t know what is going to happen. It depends. I’ve seen the training, (if) I see it’s the best thing for the team, I will put it. That is the only way I know how to respond to that.”

United’s next opponents Wolves have not yet won a game in the Premier League this season, and are rock bottom, eight points behind 19th place Burnley.

Asked about Rob Edwards’ side not winning yet, Amorim said: “Anything can happen, and that will change. There is no team in Premier League history that didn’t win one game. It can be any game. We need to try to improve, to rest the players, work really well and prepare for a tough match, because, with us, it’s always a tough match.”