Manchester United will carefully manage midfielder Kobbie Mainoo return from a muscle injury after he took part in training ahead of Thursday’s Europa League first leg against Olympique Lyonnais, manager Ruben Amorim has confirmed.
The 19-year-old England international has not played since United‘s FA Cup fourth-round win over Leicester City on February 7, missing 10 games across all competitions. Kobbie Mainoo return is a welcome boost for United, who face French side Lyon at Parc Olympique Lyonnais in the first leg of their Europa League tie, while also aiming to improve their position in the Premier League, where they are 13th with seven matches remaining.
“He had some games out, so we have to be careful with his fitness. We are really pleased with him but we have to be careful with him,”* Amorim told reporters on Wednesday when asked about Mainoo’s potential involvement against Lyon.
“We are really happy to have more options and an option like Kobbie, with the quality that he has – he has played as a six, as an eight, and as a 10 – we are really pleased to have Kobbie but we have to be careful; we need Kobbie fit and fresh.”
