Ruben Amorim believes that Kobbie Mainoo is the future of Manchester United, but explained that the out-of-favour midfielder may have to wait for his chance to prove it. 

Mainoo's game time has been limited this season, making just 12 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils, with only one of those coming in Amorim's starting line-up. 

In the Premier League, he has managed to play just 212 minutes of football, and he has been an unused substitute four times in the top flight in 2025-26. 

The 20-year-old was told to "fight for his job" by Amorim, only for a calf injury to rule him out of United's 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, with Mainoo now set for a spell on the sidelines. 

It has been a fall from grace for Mainoo, who started 23 of the 38 matches he featured in last term across all competitions, with his latest setback coming at a time when Amorim's squad is depleted with injuries and players on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations. 

"Kobbie Mainoo will have the opportunity he has all the time. He played in different positions," Amorim said. 

"He can do that [defensive midfield] position, he can play if we play with three, he can play like we played in the last game, the position of Mason Mount in this game. 

"So, he's going to be the future of Manchester United, that is my feeling. He just needs to wait for his chance and everything could change in football in two days."

Reports had suggested that Mainoo would look to leave the club in January in search of more playing time, something Amorim said would only happen if the club could source an adequate replacement next month. 

"If we are not getting someone, it is hard to leave," Amorim added.

"Even with a full squad, we are short [in terms of players] for something that can happen here so it's going to be hard for someone to leave the club if we don't get a substitution."

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Mainoo joins Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire and captain Bruno Fernandes on the injury table, while Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are all at AFCON. 

Amorim has identified United's midfield as a key area to strengthen, while he was also on hand to address Casemiro and Maguire's futures at Old Trafford. 

The pair will see their contracts come to an end following the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign. 

"There is no decision," Amorim said. "We have a lot to do, and we need to understand what is going to happen next season, because we need to understand if there are European games what we are doing.

"We have so much to do in this moment. We are not thinking about that. I am really happy with them but I don't know what is going to happen."

The United boss did, however, insist he would not be disappointed if reinforcements did not arrive next month.

"No. Of course, we are struggling in this in this moment, but throughout the club we have a plan," he said ahead of the visit of Newcastle United. 

"We are going to stick with the plan. I think if we have the opportunity to bring in a player that we think is going to be the future of the club, he is going to come.

"If not, we have Jack [Fletcher], we have Shea Lacey and in three weeks, we'll have Amad, Nous [Mazraoui], Bryan [Mbeumo]. Return of Bruno [Fernandes], Kobbie Mainoo."