'I've coached Kobbie Mainoo and he will outlast Ruben Amorim at Man Utd'

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Joleon Lescott reckons that Kobbie Mainoo will outlast Ruben Amorim at Manchester United. The 20-year-old hasn't started a Premier League match this season.

Mainoo burst onto the scene at Old Trafford, scoring an FA Cup-winning goal and becoming a fixture in England's midfield at Euro 2024 . However, since Erik ten Hag's departure, Mainoo has found it difficult to fit into new boss Amorim's team .

With Bruno Fernandes filling the midfield role that Mainoo is perhaps best suited to, he has been relegated to substitute appearances and requested a loan this summer . Rumours continue to swirl about his potential departure from the club.

Lescott, who coached him for the Three Lions, believes that he should be allowed to play elsewhere as he has a future at the club, unlike manager Amorim. "I've worked with Kobbie. He's a very mature and impressive person," said Lescott, speaking on In The Mixer , brought to you by Sky Bet.

"But if I'm the club, I'm saying, 'We're giving you a new deal and go and play.' Go somewhere else and play because the future is Kobbie Mainoo. It's not Amorim, is it?

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"You'd like to think he's going to be at Man United longer than the manager. So the club should step in and dictate how this plays out rather than just let the manager create a scenario where Kobbie is like, 'I'm not signing, I don't want to sign, I don't want to be here.'

"Because then you've lost the player of that ilk. I do really think that if the club steps in and controls this situation then it can still be manageable.

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"You have the manager that might not be there in a year's time and then you've lost an asset. I'm not saying Amorim has to play him, but he's coming to the end of his contract. So in like 18 months' time or 12 months' time he's free."

Mainoo appeared in United's thrilling 4-4 stalemate with Bournemouth and earned plaudits for his display . His sole start this campaign came during the crushing Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town.

The 20-year-old's sibling was also present at Monday's match , wearing a shirt emblazoned with "Free Kobbie Mainoo." Lescott believes head coach Amorim is mishandling the situation surrounding Mainoo.

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He added: "Amorim is just managing this wrongly. Mainoo doesn't need to play every week but the scenario can be managed better and I think the club have to be involved in this process."

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