Kobbie Mainoo gets shock Man United warning as Ruben Amorim tipped to complete transfer

Kobbie Mainoo has been warned that Ruben Amorim could sign a new midfielder ahead of the January transfer window. The 19-year-old midfielder, who's yet to play for the new Manchester United boss, has missed the last six matches due to a muscle injury he suffered last month.

Mainoo was replaced by Casemiro in the final minutes of the goalless draw with Aston Villa in October, having aggravated the hamstring problem he picked up against Tottenham Hotspur a week prior. Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has since stepped down as interim manager, later confirmed that the teenager wouldn't be available until after the November international break.

"Kobbie is also progressing with his injury. He isn't yet with the team, though. He needs more time," said the Dutchman. Mainoo finally returned to the matchday squad that faced Ipswich Town at the weekend, but he was an unused substitute.

READ MORE: Amorim is working on United's three weaknesses with new warm-up drills

READ MORE: Amad improved something in only three days of training under Amorim

Ruben Amorim opted to bring on Manuel Ugarte instead, further delaying the Englishman's audition for a place in the starting line-up. In a column for BBC Sport, former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy claimed that the switch at Portman Road could be a sign of things to come, although Mainoo was returning from injury.

The ex-Premier League ace suggested that Mainoo may not have a future at Old Trafford, and tipped Amorim to bring in a new face to partner Ugarte in the middle of the park. Murphy said: "To play that role well, United's midfielders will need to be more than just mobile, too.

"They will both have to love the defensive side of the game and be able to spot danger and then be fast enough to stop it. In the long run, I think Manuel Ugarte will be one of them.

"He needs a run of games to get his sharpness back, but we have seen glimpses of how good he is, for example, in the Europa League against Fenerbahce last month, and he has flourished under Amorim at Sporting before."

Murphy added: "As for who Ugarte will have alongside him, well, it will probably be someone who is not at the club at the moment. There is going to have to be activity in the next couple of transfer windows for them to get the type of player Amorim requires."

While Murphy surprisingly overlooked Mainoo, Gary Neville branded the teenager as a 'certainty' in Amorim's side. The United legend said: "I think Mainoo and Ugarte for me, playing midfield, I think they’re absolute certs."