Manchester United’s record of including an academy graduate in every matchday squad for the past 87 years threatens to derail Kobbie Mainoo’s chances of a January exit, it’s been reported.
Mainoo wanted to leave United on loan in the summer after struggling for minutes under Ruben Amorim, who has handed the 20-year-old just 113 Premier League minutes across five appearances so far this season.
Given his continued struggles, Mainoo is expected to push for a departure from United again midway through the season, but note his status as an academy graduate could actually work against him.
United have had at least one academy graduate in every matchday squad over the past 87 years, but options in Amorim’s current squad are limited. The summer sale of Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea, coupled with loan exits for Marcus Rashford and Toby Collyer alongside Jonny Evans’s retirement, leaves Mainoo as just one of two senior graduates in Amorim’s squad.
Third-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton counts towards the tally, while young defender Tyler Fredricson is an occasional feature in Amorim’s squad.
