Danny Murphy raises question marks over Kobbie Mainoo under Ruben Amorim

2 hours ago 4

ARTICLE AD

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy fears for Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo under Ruben Amorim.

Murphy explains why he doesn’t think Amorim, 39, would want to get as much out of Mainoo’s potential as possible after taking the United job.

Most would think that among the biggest pull factors for a head coach at United right now, is working with young players like Alejandro Garnacho and Mainoo. Both players came through the ranks into the first team and we hope Amorim brings through more players in the future.

Mainoo returned to the matchday squad for Ipswich Town but wasn’t among the five substitutes brought on by Amorim in his first game, which ended 1-1.

Manuel Ugarte came on instead after Christian Eriksen and Casemiro started in midfield.

Murphy doesn’t believe that Mainoo has a place in the midfield double pivot in his 3-4-3 system, but thinks Ugarte will have a starting role.

“To play that role well, United’s midfielders will need to be more than just mobile, too,” he told BBC Sport.

“They will both have to love the defensive side of the game and be able to spot danger and then be fast enough to stop it. In the long run, I think Manuel Ugarte will be one of them.

“He needs a run of games to get his sharpness back, but we have seen glimpses of how good he is, for example, in the Europa League against Fenerbahce last month, and he has flourished under Amorim at Sporting before.

“As for who Ugarte will have alongside him, well, it will probably be someone who is not at the club at the moment. There is going to have to be activity in the next couple of transfer windows for them to get the type of player Amorim requires.”