Pundit says nothing wrong with “sitting and learning your trade” as 20-year-old searches for minutes under Amorim
Roy Keane believes Kobbie Mainoo should remain patient and work hard to earn himself a place in the Manchester United squad.
The 20-year-old has yet to start a Premier League match this season under Ruben Amorim and has even found substitute minutes hard to come by. He has been linked with a possible move away from Old Trafford in January as he looks to continue his development with minutes on the pitch and strengthen his case for England selection.
Keane said Mainoo’s situation is not unusual for a young player at a club at United’s level, with serious competition for places, and argued patience is part of the learning process. Rather than looking elsewhere, Keane believes the youngster’ priority should be confronting the challenge head on.
“He’s 20 years of age, what’s wrong with sitting and learning your trade?” Keane said on the Stick to Football podcast. “And even if he’s not getting a chance, we’ve all had to do it at different levels.
“Sometimes a manager is on your case and what you have to do is prove them wrong. Every day is your chance to prove yourself to the manager. He’s got to get that in his mindset.”
During Monday’s chaotic 4-4 draw with Bournemouth, Mainoo came off the bench on the hour mark and played for 30 minutes. In the crowd, his half-brother Jordan Mainoo-Hames grabbed attention with a T-shirt bearing the message “Free Kobbie Mainoo”. Keane was unimpressed.
“When he’s got his idiot brother doing all that stuff – we shouldn’t even be giving his brother the time of day,” Keane said. “Because sometimes you’re just surrounded by idiots, especially in families.”
The former United captain said the display could not have been done without Mainoo’s knowledge, and insisted the player should not have permitted it.
“You come in after the match, and your brother did that – if my brother even did that, you would be looking at him going, ‘what are you doing?’” Keane said.
“And do you know what – do you think his brother’s done that without asking him? He’s under contract, he’s on a decent wage.”
Keane did not dismiss the idea of a loan move for Mainoo outright but he suggested staying and fighting for a place could be just as valuable for the player.
“You bide your time as a young player,” said Keane. “I have no problem with players going out on loan, it can work for everybody. But sometimes as a player, your biggest challenge is here at Man United, getting into that first-team.
“Even if the manager is saying you won’t get in over Bruno, you prove them wrong!”
