Manchester United fans have taken to social media to highlight Kobbie Mainoo’s lack of involvement at the World Cup by sharing a series of light-hearted memes.
Mainoo is one of just six players in England’s 26-man squad who have yet to feature, despite Thomas Tuchel rotating his team across the Three Lions’ three group games.
Dan Burn, Ivan Toney and Trevoh Chalobah – who was a late call-up to the squad after Tino Livramento was ruled out through injury – are the only other outfield players in the England squad yet to have game time.
Dean Henderson and James Trafford have also remained on the bench, with the two goalkeepers behind England’s first choice Jordan Pickford.
Mainoo’s lack of game time was highlighted by Man United fans after Jordan Henderson came on for the closing 12 minutes of the 2-0 victory over Panama on Saturday.
Henderson, 36, became the first England player to feature at four World Cups and in seven major tournaments following his appearance.
Man United fans have light-heartedly highlighted Kobbie Mainoo’s lack of game time at the World Cup
Fans created a series of memes after Mainoo was overlooked by Thomas Tuchel in favour of Jordan Henderson for the closing stages of England’s 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday
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Man United supporters leaned into a social media trend – which began with Brazilian fans poking fun at Carlo Ancelotti’s perceived reluctance to play their teenage star Endrick – by suggesting the same was true for Tuchel and Mainoo.
One fan jokingly implied that the German coach would put on the England kit and take to the field himself if Mainoo was the only midfielder available to him.
Another shared a clip of a man performing a handstand on water to get to their car, writing ‘If you get your feet wet you have to play Mainoo’.
A similar post was made by a third fan writing ‘If you fall off the bridge, you have to play Kobbie Mainoo’, with a clip of a man swaying from side to side to remain on a swinging bridge.
A further clip showed Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi during a warm-up, when the former had been the coach of Argentina’s national team.
Maradona could be seen in the clip kicking the ball away from Messi, requiring him to react, change direction at pace and sprint after it.
The Man United fan shared the video by writing: ‘Kobbie Mainoo: “Pass me the ball, coach!”‘, before suggesting Tuchel would take on Maradona’s role by kicking it away from the midfielder.
Another fan highlighted how it is not the first time Mainoo has struggled for minutes during his career.
Mainoo had been frozen out at Man United under his former boss Ruben Amorim, leading to doubts over his future at the club before a revival in fortunes under Michael Carrick.
The fan referenced Mainoo’s previous situation when reacting to Henderson being brought on ahead of him.
They shared a photo of Mainoo’s brother, who had memorably worn a ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ t-shirt at Old Trafford during his absence from the first team set-up under Amorim.
Mainoo will hope for a similar turnaround as he targets his first game time at the World Cup.
England will next be in action on July 1 when Tuchel’s side face DR Congo in Atalanta in the last-32 of the competition.
It is a short turnaround for England after winning their group on Saturday night, which could lead to Tuchel rotating his side again as the knock-out stage begins.
England know that a victory would set up a last-16 tie against either co-hosts Mexico or Ecuador.
Their possible route through the knock-out stage could include a quarter-final against Brazil and a potential semi-final with holders Argentina.
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