Kobbie Mainoo is set to stay at Manchester United, and abandon any potential push to leave, following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim.
Amorim was axed on Monday, with the 40-year-old’s head rolling less than 24 hours after a 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road.
One player to struggle for regular game time under the Portuguese was Mainoo, with the England international often finding himself on the fringes of the action.
He had been planning to push to leave the club on loan this month, having grown frustrated at being behind the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte in his manager’s pecking order.
According to the Manchester Evening News, however, Mainoo now looks set to stay at Old Trafford and fight for a place in their starting XI.
The 20-year-old, who is yet to start in the league, has missed the last few weeks through injury.
Whether he now makes a swift return remains to be seen, though, with Darren Fletcher due to be in the dugout for Wednesday night’s showdown with Burnley.
Kobbie Mainoo struggled for regular game time under Ruben Amorim at Manchester United
| PA
Fletcher came through the United academy himself and could attempt to tap into Mainoo’s potential, with the youngster considered one of their brightest academy prospects.
United are believed to be on the lookout for a caretaker manager to see out the campaign, with Fletcher not expected to be in his position for long.
Last week, Norwegian media suggested Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was prepared to make another sensational return to the Red Devils.
Ruben Amorim has lost his job as Manchester United manager after just 14 months
| GETTY
Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho on an interim basis in December 2018 before being named permanent manager just three months later.
He guided United to third and second-placed finishes in each of his two full seasons in charge and, in the summer of 2021, was given a new contract.
However, following the Hollywood homecoming of Cristiano Ronaldo, Solskjaer was sacked in November of that year with a 4-1 defeat away at Watford ultimately the final straw.
Another potential man for the role is Michael Carrick.
He became a club legend at Old Trafford during his playing days, helping the Red Devils win five Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson – as well as the Champions League in 2008.
Carrick managed two United games in 2021 after Solskjaer’s sacking.
Darren Fletcher (pictured right) will take charge of Manchester United on an interim basis | PA
And he won 46 per cent of his matches while in charge of Middlesbrough, who ultimately parted ways with the former midfielder back in June.
Meanwhile, reacting to Amorim’s exit, United legend Rio Ferdinand has admitted he wasn’t surprised to see him go.
“I didn’t anticipate this when I woke up this morning that Ruben Amorim would be getting the sack. He was not in the four or five managers I thought would be getting the sack next,” he said.
“I am surprised but when you look at his record, in black and white, I’m not surprised.
“I think that has been definitive and the reason it’s been so sharp overnight [speaking out].
“Two managers have spoken out against the hierarchy now and been sacked immediately. But his record is the worst of any United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson.”
