Ruben Amorim confirmed Kobbie Mainoo missed the Aston Villa clash with a calf injury, forcing Manchester United to rely on academy graduates amid a mounting injury crisis.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has confirmed that midfielder Kobbie Mainoo missed Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Aston Villa due to a calf injury sustained in training.
The setback is particularly poorly timed as the teenager was widely expected to make his first league start of the season.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Amorim noted: “He [Mainoo] went to the doctor. He got something in his calf. We are going to assess but he is out of this game.”
The injury adds to a growing availability crisis for United, who traveled to Villa Park without suspended veteran Casemiro and several other key first-team players.
When asked if Mainoo would have started the match, Amorim remained coy but acknowledged the player’s internal understanding of the situation.
“I prefer not to say, not just because of the player who is going to play this evening,” the manager explained, adding, “he knows, and that is enough.”
With his squad depleted, Amorim included four academy players on the bench, including debutant Bendito Mantato.
Despite the absences, the manager expressed confidence in his available options and the team’s ability to adapt their tactical characteristics.
“You win experience by playing and training with the first team,” Amorim stated. “So it’s a big opportunity for everyone and if I need some of them, they will be ready.”