Ruben: Up yer game to be a Mainoo man

RUBEN AMORIM has warned Kobbie Mainoo he must improve and show more fight if he wants to be a regular starter for Manchester United. Mainoo has not started a Premier League game for United this season and asked to go out on loan before deadline day due to a lack of playing time, a request that was rejected.

- BY DAVID MCDONNELL

RUBEN AMORIM has warned Kobbie Mainoo he must improve and show more fight if he wants to be a regular starter for Manchester United. Mainoo has not started a Premier League game for United this season and asked to go out on loan before deadline day due to a lack of playing time, a request that was rejected.

The 20-year-old was left out of Thomas Tuchel's latest England squad due to his lack of game time, with the midfielder worried he could miss out on next year’s World Cup in the USA.

But Amorim warned Mainoo - who is in contention to start today's Manchester derby because of injuries to Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha - he needs to get better to win back his place.

"I believe a lot in Kobbie, but some of you think that he is already done," said Amorim. "I think he can do so much better, he can improve a lot.