Topics: Kobbie Mainoo, Manchester United, Ruben Amorim, Premier League
Kobbie Mainoo has copied Marcus Rashford on social media after being denied a departure from Manchester United in the summer transfer window.
After an incredible breakthrough at United and starring performances for England, Mainoo has found minutes hard to come by under Ruben Amorim - who admitted he is competing with captain Bruno Fernandes for a spot in his team.
Concerned with his lack of game-time going into next year's World Cup, Mainoo is understood to have expressed his desire to leave on loan in a meeting with club officials.
However, United refused to sanction a loan move and despite reported interest from Napoli, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, he stayed put at his boyhood club beyond the transfer window - with Amorim stating that Mainoo "needs to fight for his place".
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Having only played 45 minutes in the Premier League this season in the 3-2 win over Burnley, Mainoo was not included in Thomas Tuchel's latest England squad for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.
Tuchel named a 24-man squad for the fixtures, including Jordan Henderson and newcomer Elliott Anderson of Nottingham Forest as his midfield options.
Adam Wharton was forced to withdraw from injury but Mainoo was overlooked as the replacement, with AC Milan's Ruben Loftus-Cheek brought in.
Mainoo has instead been taking part in individual training sessions, sharing footage of him performing tricks with the ball on a pitch as he tries to keep sharp.
United are back in action on 14 September when they take on rivals Manchester City in a huge derby clash, with Mainoo desperate for his first Premier League start after his substitute appearance against Burnley.
After Mainoo's meteoric rise, former Rangers and Sunderland striker Ally McCoist strikers has been left baffled by Mainoo's situation at Old Trafford.
"It's bizarre," McCoist said on TNT Sports.
"I don’t understand what’s going on with Kobbie Mainoo because you’d think that the way Manchester United are, he would be good enough to get into that team.
"The manager came out and effectively said he’s challenging Fernandes for that position, which I don’t think is a battle he’s going to win.
"So if he’s not going to win that battle, it doesn’t look as though he’s going to play. It’s strange. Very, very strange."
Mainoo is contracted until 2027 and reports claimed he had a verbal agreement over fresh terms, though no official offer has been made.
