What Kobbie Mainoo gestured to Jonny Evans as injury fear emerges for Manchester United
Kobbie Mainoo was forced off after 45 minutes during the Premier League defeat against Tottenham as Man United now get ready for important games with FC Porto and Aston Villa.
New footage of Kobbie Mainoo leaving the field on Sunday afternoon against Tottenham appears to show the midfielder telling Jonny Evans that he has pulled his hamstring. It comes with Erik ten Hag now facing-up to the prospect of entering a massive week without, potentially, one of his most key players.
Mainoo, 19, has played 29 straight Premier League matches for Manchester United dating back to December 2023, appearing in all but two matches since his first-ever start away to Everton. Of those he has been selected from the off 27 times, completing 80 or more minutes in 22.
Especially for a teenager, that's a large load to bare and he's not been helped by the large distances having to be covered in the absence of team structure of mobile runners around him. The signing of Manuel Ugarte was meant to aid that, but Mainoo has been scrambling around regardless.
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Against Tottenham, this was highlighted as United were played through time and time again. Only Timo Werner's wasteful finishing and some good goalkeeping kept the home side in the match.
Mainoo didn't even make it to the break, though, and was taken off just before half time. Following captain Bruno Fernandes' red card, Mainoo was given treatment on the pitch - and had to be helped off by a physio shortly after.
Mason Mount replaced him and was in the book just five minutes later himself. For Ten Hag, the sight of Mainoo hobbling off will be a major concern ahead of two games which could have a significant say in whether or not he remains in charge beyond October's international break.
United face Porto in midweek in the Europa League before then travelling to Aston Villa in a crunch meeting just two days later. Mainoo immediately becomes a doubt for both games, especially after one fan was able to record the anguish on his face from the moment he went off.
Walking down the touchline and towards the tunnel, Mainoo stops briefly to talk to teammate Evans, putting his hand on his right hamstring, saying "hammy" and then walking off with his head down. The 19-year-old also looked to have a slight limp a he waited next to the physio, feeling the back of his leg, then going slowly on.
After the game, Ten Hag was coy on the matter, but didn't hide that worry. "I have to find out, when a player is coming off before half-time already, then there are some concerns," he said. The bigger issue for the coach may well be missing a player who has been integral to the rays of positivity across the last 12 months, especially in a week that could mean so much.