Kobbie Mainoo ruled out of Man United squad to face Aston Villa with calf injury

Manchester United will be without Kobbie Mainoo for the trip to Aston Villa after the young midfielder picked up a calf injury in training, ruling him out of a game he was in line to start as Casemiro serves a suspension.

Mainoo had been in contention to make his first Premier League start of the season, having appeared 11 times off the bench this term. With Casemiro suspended for the Villa Park fixture, the 20-year-old looked set to push into the starting XI, but a late training-ground setback has forced him to miss the match.

The injury was described by United manager Ruben Amorim as a small issue sustained at the club’s Carrington training ground on Saturday. “He got an injury in the last training. After training he went to the doctor, and he’s got something in his calf. We are going to assess, but he’s out of this game,” Amorim said. “Not just for the team, but for him, to have this problem is a reminder that we need to focus on everything we can control and leave the rest to destiny. He’s going to be fine in a few weeks, I think. I don't know. Let’s focus on the players we have.”

With Mainoo unavailable, Manuel Ugarte is set to take Casemiro’s place in midfield, as Amorim indicated the lineup decision was influenced by tactical considerations ahead of Villa’s visit. “Not just because of the player (Ugarte) that is going to play this evening and now it's easy to say …. he (Mainoo) knows and that is enough,” the head coach said, hinting that selection decisions extend beyond a single name and reflect broader plans for the side.

Mainoo’s future at Old Trafford has dominated talk around United’s midfield since last season, and the saga has intensified amid off-field moments in December. His half-brother, Jordan Mainoo-Hames, wore a ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ T-shirt at United’s clash with Bournemouth, a visual that underscored the persistent chatter about the academy product’s long-term prospects. United have blocked previous January moves in the past, with Napoli reportedly at the front of the queue to pursue a loan exit for the 20-year-old, but Amorim has repeatedly urged him to stay and compete for a spot in the team.

In addressing the broader situation, Amorim emphasized the importance of patience for young players at a club of United’s stature. “Kobbie needs to fight for his job. I think that it’s not a bad thing to be on the bench of Manchester United when you are 20-years-old. I remember Ronaldo was on the bench, Rooney was on the bench sometimes, Veron was not playing. I’m not trying to say to Kobbie, ‘you are a big player here, let’s put him on the bench to show something.’ No, what I’m saying is the opposite. I'm just not putting Kobbie in sometimes because I understand that this is not the right guy to start the game. Maybe the next game, Sunday, he is going to start. If he plays well, is going to show everyone ‘this guy cannot take me out of the team,’ and I will be so happy. So let's continue in trying to avoid the nonsense and the noise. I just want to help the team to win and to help Kobbie to be a better player.”

The injury absence leaves United facing what could be a pivotal early-season test at Villa Park, where a positive result would help keep their push for a top-four finish on track. While Ugarte will shoulder greater responsibility in midfield, the situation continues to highlight the delicate balance the club is trying to strike with young players in a competitive, results-driven environment. The December chapter of Mainoo’s Manchester United story remains unsettled, with supporters watching closely as the club navigates form, selection and the future of a player viewed by some as a potential long-term contributor.

For now, the focus shifts to the match itself and to the players available to Amorim. The manager has stressed the need to maximize the squad and to manage expectations around a group that includes growing talents alongside seasoned internationals. With the calendar turning toward the new year, any development for Mainoo—whether a breakthrough opportunity or a decision to pursue a loan elsewhere—will be watched closely by fans and pundits alike, as United map out the best path for the midfielder’s progression while continuing to compete at the highest level.