James Maddison shares honest Kobbie Mainoo verdict after latest Ruben Amorim snub

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison has given his verdict on Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo after he was left out of the starting XI yet again by Ruben Amorim for Monday’s meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Mainoo has yet to start a Premier League game this season, with the player seemingly not featuring highly in Amorim’s plans.

The Carrington academy graduate asked to leave United on loan during the transfer window – a request that was rejected. Mainoo’s situation hasn’t improved since then and rumours are rife that a January exit is firmly on the cards. He continues to be linked to the likes of Napoli, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Barcelona.

Mainoo was unsurprisingly named on the bench for Monday’s 4-1 victory over Wolves. Before the contest, Amorim made it clear that he would only start the 20-year-old if he truly believed he was the right man to go out and win the game.  These comments sparked a harsh response from club legend Paul Scholes.

When Mainoo was introduced at Molineux, he was greeted with a huge roar from the travelling United fans, who made their feelings about his situation known.

He enjoyed a positive cameo, completing more passes (12/13) and winning more fouls (2) than any other midfielder during the brief period he was on the pitch.

– Monday, 8 December 2025

Speaking on Sky Sports, Maddison backed Mainoo to rediscover his form and get his career back on track.

Asked whether Mainoo still has a bright future, Maddison said [as quoted by the Manchester Evening News ], “Yeah, definitely. It wasn’t that long ago he was starting in the Euros for England.”

“I remember Kobbie’s first start for England was a game I came on as a sub in and I was very impressed with how composed he was and the occasion just didn’t get to him at all.”

Maddison continued, “He is good on the ball and calm. A player with that much quality and assurance on the ball.”

“I don’t see any way how he doesn’t get back to a really high level.”

United currently sit in sixth place in the Premier League table, level on points with Chelsea in fifth and just one point adrift of Crystal Palace in the final guaranteed Champions League spot.

Featured image George Wood via Getty Images

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