Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Pallister has revealed Kobbie Mainoo won’t be the main midfielder under Michael Carrick.
Mainoo was shortlisted for the PFA’s Young Player of the Year award last season as he committed his future to the club until 2031 on a fresh contract.
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After the introduction of Carrick earlier this year, Mainoo was handed his chance in the side and took it as he became a pivotal member of the squad who clinched Champions League football.
He developed a perfect partnership with captain Bruno Fernandeswho was named the Premier League’s Player of the Season for 2025-26 after racking up a record-breaking 21 assists.
Everyone must adapt to Fernandes
However, despite his fantastic campaign, Pallister spoke to NewBettingSites about how Mainoo will still play second fiddle to Fernandes who is the heart of the side.
“Kobbie’s done well, but I wouldn’t say he’s torn up trees. It’s a weird one with Kobbie because when he got left out of the team, it was probably deservedly so. But you see this often with young players, after a breakthrough season and a standout tournament with England at the Euros, he struggled to find his rhythm at the start of the following campaign.
“You’re not going to take Bruno Fernandes’ place. He’s been the standout player at Manchester United for six years. So what kind of message does that send to Kobbie Mainoo? I don’t know. It was a real struggle for him under Ruben Amorim, and he was going nowhere.
“Basically, he knew he wasn’t going to get game time, except perhaps in the EFL Cup or similar matches. But listen, these are good players who know how to adapt and play alongside each other.
“Kobbie is a wonderful player with the ball at his feet, he can create space, score goals, and play a killer pass. Still, the main man is Bruno, who has proven his quality time and time again. Ultimately, it’s about everyone else adapting to him, rather than the other way around.”
According to The Sun, Carrick wants to tweak Mainoo’s role, encouraging the England international to become a more complete midfielder alongside Fernandes in what is one of the most productive partnerships in the Premier League.
