Kobbie Mainoo is “one of the happiest people about” following Ruben Amorim’s sacking as Manchester United head coach.
That’s according to former United striker Michael Owen, who has warned the young midfielder that he must now prove Amorim was wrong for not playing him.
Mainoo went from a regular starter under Erik ten Hag to an outcast under Amorim, who did not hand him a Premier League start this season before being sacked.
The England international tried to force a loan exit in the final days of the summer transfer window, but the request was blocked, and has since been told he is staying put this month.
Mainoo is currently nursing an injury problem, which has seen him sit out the last three matchday squads.
But with Darren Fletcher in interim charge, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer potentially returning on a deal until the end of the season, Mainoo will hope his minutes soon increase.
"By the very fact that Amorim has gone, you would think that he's going to get a lot more opportunity to play, but that's where the positive for him ends in many ways,” Owen told casino.org.
"Now it's down to Mainoo. It's all right blaming people, but of course, his time is now going to come and he's got to take it.
"He's got to take that opportunity because if the next manager doesn't play him and the next manager doesn't bring him on much, then at some point, a little bit like Marcus Rashford, those doubts might start to creep in.
"He'll be thinking, ‘Am I playing well? Am I listening to the information I'm getting? Am I disciplined? Am I all of these things?’
"Right now, he will be one of the happiest people about, but now it's going to be squarely on his toes, and there's no hiding place or excuses.
"He's got to now prove that Amorim was wrong by not playing him as much. He's probably going to get that opportunity, so we'll see."
