Paul Scholes fears Kobbie Mainoo will regress if he continues to be deployed in unfamiliar roles.

The homegrown Manchester United midfielder was outstanding for club and country last season but has been shunted around the pitch recently as Ruben Amorim strives to find a positive answer to the squad's problems. Mainoo was even deployed as a false nine during the home defeat to Crystal Palace, with struggling strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee on the bench.

After United failed to strengthen their blunt forward line in January and outcast Marcus Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan, we could see more square pegs in round holes before the end of the season. That has left Scholes concerned, especially when it comes to Mainoo.

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Speaking on the The Overlap Fan Debate, the United midfield great said: “I think Mainoo is lost. I've talked about Declan Rice being lost before - I think Mainoo is lost as well. They don't know what to do with him.

“I don't think he knows where to play on a football pitch because he's been played in one of the number 10 positions, he has been played in the two in the midfield, which I can see probably doesn't suit him because I don't think the greatest athlete.

“He's a great footballer. I think the No 10 does suit, [but] the false nine, never in a million years.”

Scholes also addressed United’s shortcomings in general and said creating a strong spine was imperative to avoid being drawn into a relegation battle next season. He said: “That spine, that core is so important.

“If they don’t get that right this summer… This might sound ridiculous but the form since this manager’s been in, they could be looking at being in that relegation fight. I’m telling you, it’s been so bad.”

It will be intriguing to see where Mainoo is deployed when United face fellow strugglers Tottenham on Sunday.