Ruben Amorim has fired a warning to Kobbie Mainoo after revealing he is competing for a midfield spot with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.
Mainoo, 20, was an unused substitute at Craven Cottage and watched on from the bench as Fernandes wildly skied a first-half penalty, before Emile Smith Rowe cancelled out Rodrigo Muniz’s own goal to force a share of the spoils.
Amorim used all five of his changes but did not bring on Mainoo when United were pegged back, instead calling upon defenders Harry Maguire and Ayden Heaven.
Mainoo was also not given a single minute during United’s 1-0 defeat by Arsenal in their Premier League opener, despite his team-mates squandering a host of chances.
He has started just 15 of Amorim’s 44 matches in charge to date, falling victim to the head coach’s preference of pairing an attacking midfielder alongside a defensive-minded partner in his system. Fernandes, of course, remains an undisputed starter.
Consequently, it is Fernandes that Mainoo must dislodge in order to earn minutes.
Kobbie Mainoo has been warned he must oust Bruno Fernandes from Man United’s starting XI
Mainoo was an unused substitute again in the Red Devils’ 1-1 draw with Fulham
Ruben Amorim admitted the promising youngster is behind Fernandes in the pecking order
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Amorim said: ‘Mainoo is fighting for his position with Bruno. I changed two midfielders. I left Mason Mount there because we wanted to score a goal and when I changed, I felt the team needed one holding midfielder.
‘So he needs to fight for his position with Bruno. At the moment, he is fighting in training with Bruno for the position.’
Amorim started Fernandes alongside anchor Casemiro on Sunday, before replacing the latter with Manuel Ugarte. Mount was also dropped back into the deeper role.
Hoping to solve his lack of midfield drive this summer, Amorim had targeted Brighton’s Carlos Baleba but missed out courtesy of his £100million asking price.
Earlier this summer, Gary Neville had warned his former club against selling Mainoo despite their PSR headache.
‘Mainoo, no. That’s a step too far,’ said Neville. ‘If we can’t give Kobbie Mainoo a job in that two in midfield… I look at Mainoo and the way he plays football and I think a top club would want him. Why can’t we make him a top player?
‘If he’s one of ours and he’s shown talent. I don’t know what’s gone on there in the last few months.
‘He’s obviously had some injuries which has caused him a problem so he needs to stay fit, but I’d like to think he could be one of that two in midfield.’
