Kobbie Mainoo is ready to seek a loan move away from Manchester United in January after becoming deeply frustrated about his lack of minutes under Ruben Amorim.
United are, however, expected to wait until after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finishes in the middle of the winter window to make a decision on Mainoo, given the uncertainty of how the tournament will impact Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo and the Ivory Coast’s Amad.
Mainoo was an unused substitute for the fourth time this season during United’s 1-1 draw with West Ham United on Thursday night.
The 20-year-old is yet to start a Premier League game this term, having informed United of his desire to go out on loan towards the close of the summer window. The only other senior players yet to start in the Premier League are Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and Tom Heaton.
United did not sanction a loan for Mainoo in the summer but head coach Amorim has still only used him sparingly since, and the England international’s future remains uncertain. He has played 171 minutes in the Premier League, as well as the full 90 in the Carabao Cup against Grimsby Town.
United are set to weigh up whether it is better to keep Mainoo in the second half of the campaign or allow him to leave to play regularly, thus retaining his value if a summer sale is explored. Mainoo has held a preference to go abroad should he leave Old Trafford, with Bayern Munich among the clubs to have previously shown interest.
Speaking after Thursday’s draw with West Ham, Amorim insisted that Mainoo must earn more opportunities and will not simply be selected because of the debate around his lack of minutes.
When asked if he could understand why Mainoo is the subject of much discussion, he said: “Of course I understand. My job is to answer but I am trying to answer always the same thing. And you ask me always the same thing.
“I understand what you are saying. You love Kobbie. He starts for England, but that doesn’t mean I need to put Kobbie (on) when I feel I shouldn’t put Kobbie (on).”
Amorim said that he understands why Mainoo would be demoralised by his lack of playing time, adding: “I see it and I just want to win. I just put the players. 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 doing (Mainoo’s) position so maybe it has to do with that.”
On whether Mainoo’s prospects would be improved when several United players depart to play at the AFCON later this month, Amorim said: “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 (him in). That is the only way I know how to respond to that.”
Following the departures of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho this summer, Mainoo is the only academy graduate with realistic ambitions of a regular spot in Amorim’s starting line-up.
Fellow graduate Shea Lacey has been included in United’s last three matchday squads but is yet to debut.
When asked whether he trusts United’s academy, Amorim asked: “Why? (I don’t pick) any players? We have (only) Kobbie Mainoo.
“When Bryan (Mbeumo) is not there, I put Amad because I have other wing-backs to play and sometimes it’s hard. You are asking me why don’t I put Lacey to play when I have other guys that are international and they are also on the bench.
“I try to put the best prepared guys for this moment of the club and try to win a game, that is the only thing guys.”
Meanwhile, United midfielder Toby Collyer is set to return to Carrington to rehabilitate after sustaining a groin strain that is expected to require eight weeks of recovery. Collyer is on a season-long loan at West Bromwich Albion in the Championship.
United travel to play Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Monday evening.
