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Manchester United interim head coach Darren Fletcher believes Kobbie Mainoo is “in a good place” after the midfielder returned to fitness following a brief injury layoff. The Academy graduate made a substitute appearance in the 2-2 draw at Burnley and will be in contention for Sunday’s Emirates FA Cup third-round tie against Brighton.
Fletcher Confident Mainoo Ready for Brighton After Successful Return From Injury
The 20-year-old midfielder missed four consecutive matches against Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United due to injury before making his comeback at Turf Moor. The substitute appearance marked his 12th outing of the campaign, with Fletcher expressing satisfaction at having the England international available for selection once again.
Fletcher praised Mainoo’s demeanour during his pre-match press conference, acknowledging the midfielder’s naturally reserved character. “He seems in a good place,” Fletcher said. “Kobbie doesn’t give you much indication, so you wouldn’t know if he was in a good place or not so good. He’s like that, that’s his natural way. But I know him well, and I’ve known him for a long time.”
The interim head coach emphasised his strong relationship with Mainoo, having observed the player throughout the season in various settings around the training ground. Fletcher revealed he has maintained regular conversations with the midfielder, stating that Mainoo appears comfortable in his current environment alongside coach Travis Binnion, whom the player also knows well from his time at the club.
Fletcher reiterated his confidence in Mainoo’s current state while acknowledging the difficulty in reading the young midfielder’s emotions. “He’s in a good place. He’s trained well and, as I said, he’s hard to read, Kobbie, so that remains to be seen,” Fletcher concluded. Mainoo previously scored the winning goal in the 2024 Emirates FA Cup final against Manchester City, producing a Man of the Match display at Wembley.
