- Kobbie Mainoo has had problems closing the last few games with Ruben Amorim
- Paul Scholes expressed his fear of the 19-year-old Manchester United midfield star.
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Paul Scholes is concerned about Kobbie Mainoo's legs and his inability to finish the 90 minutes.
Mainoo returned to Manchester United's starting lineup for Sunday's 2-2 draw against Liverpool, but was withdrawn after 72 minutes.
This means the 19-year-old has only completed the full 90 minutes once in United's last five Premier League games under Ruben Amorim.
And this is in stark contrast to last season, when the central midfielder often closed out entire games with Erik ten Hag.
Amorim's two-man midfield demands energetic players and experts fear it may struggle to live up to expectations.
“Mainoo has to be a concern with his legs,” Scholes told Premier League Productions when assessing who should feature in United's midfield. “He doesn't finish many games.”
Kobbie Mainoo's legs a 'concern' in Man United's high-intensity midfield, says Paul Scholes
The Manchester United star has frequently been seen parting with Rubén Amorim.
Scholes expressed his fears for Mainoo while Gary Lineker questioned why he is not playing for longer.
Michael Owen added: “He looks heavy, but yes, he gets tired a lot, doesn't he? And it's one thing for him to be an incredible player, but if there's one thing about Mainoo, it's moving around the field and his ability to last a full game with the high intensity needed.
'And then you look at the other alternatives. You have (Christian) Eriksen, who is already years old. Casemiro has never been so mobile but he is already years old.
'So, I guess you stay with (Manuel) Ugarte and another. You stay with Ugarte.
Meanwhile, on Match of the Day, Gary Lineker posed the question: “Kobbie Mainoo returns to the starting lineup, which begs the question why he hasn't been playing more regularly of late.”
Despite the questions, there is little doubt that United's duo of Mainoo and Ugarte put in a credible performance against Liverpool and allowed them to control periods of the game.
It was a clear improvement in Casemiro's ailing midfield and Christian Eriksen started in the 2-0 defeat to Newcastle last week.
Mainoo sat out five straight Premier League games earlier this season after suffering a muscle injury against Aston Villa, and went seven games without a start.
Considering his outstanding 2023-24 campaign and his age, Mainoo looks to be an important fixture in the United squad for the foreseeable future.
Manuel Ugarte and Mainoo formed a much improved midfield against Liverpool
As Fabrizio Romano said on his YouTube channel in November: “Kobbie Mainoo is a crucial player for the owners, directors and staff of Manchester United.
'Ruben Amorim loves these types of players. Kobbie Mainoo, Leny Yoro… these types of players are exactly the direction he wants to take for the future of Man Utd.
