Roy Keane delivers brutal Kobbie Mainoo takedown as Man Utd snub continues

Roy Keane has declared that Kobbie Mainoo has no divine right to play for Manchester United in a brutal assessment of the midfielder's struggles. He has found himself on the fringes at Old Trafford despite boasting plenty of promise when he broke through in 2023. Mainoo wanted to leave United on loan in the summer to get more playing time elsewhere but saw his request blocked.

So far this season, the 20-year-old is yet to start a Premier League match and was named on the bench for Sunday's game against Liverpool. Quizzed on Mainoo's lack of action before kick-off at Anfield, former United skipper Keane suggested that he is not showing enough to justify getting more minutes. He also explained that potential alone is not enough to warrant a place in the Red Devils team.

"It obviously seems to be a problem for Mainoo to get into the team," said Keane, who was working as a pundit for Sky Sports. "I think the word coming out is they don't think he can cover the ground that quickly.

"Then again, if you look at the other midfielders United have got, they're not great at that either. but as a young player, he just has to suck that up and keep working hard and when he gets a chance, he's got to take it.

"A young player, because he's got good potential, shouldn't be guaranteed a place in the United team. I do come back to it, it will come down to the player himself.

"Your job, when you train and play every week, is to make sure the manager puts you in the team, that's it. Whether if deep down the manager doesn't fancy him, I don't know.

"We'll find out over the next few months because if he doesn't like him, he might have to move him on. But Mainoo has got that opportunity. He gained some plaudits when he first came through and got into the England squad. He's got to get back to that.

"He's had opportunities recently and I still think when he comes on, he just looks a bit short for me. So I wouldn't be one of those scratching my head because he's not in the team. You can see why the manager isn't picking him at this moment in time."

It seems unlikely that Mainoo will be allowed to leave United in January, with Ruben Amorim pouring cold water on that suggestion earlier this week.

Quizzed on his frustration over his lack of playing time, as well as fellow wantaway Joshua Zirkzee, the Red Devils manager said: "That is normal, and I also know that in our club, everything is a lot of noise and you have to have news.

"Players are not playing. They want to play. Like you said, there's a World Cup. There are agents that listen to the players talking all the time. So, I understand that, but they are our players and we need everyone to have a good season."