Koby Mainu has been ruled out of Monday’s match between Manchester United and Leeds United. The 20-year-old has started each of United’s last 10 games since Michael Carrick was appointed as the club’s interim head coach in mid-January, impressing alongside Casemiro in the midfield partnership.
However, Mainu will not play in the game against Leeds as he sustained a minor injury during training. United decided there was no risk in adding the midfielder to their squad and Manuel Ugarte joined the eleven instead. Asked about Maynou’s absence in a pre-match interview, Carrick told Sky Sports: “Coby has had some issues in training over the last day or so. So it seems like a small thing, but big enough to keep him out tonight. I hope it’s something quite small because, to be honest, it wasn’t worth the risk.”
As well as Mainu, Brian Mbeumo, Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot were also left out of the starting XI following the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, with Carrick making four changes to his squad.
Up front Benjamin Sesco was given a starting spot, Maguire’s suspension paved the way for Lisandro Martinez to return from injury, and Daro was replaced by Nousser Mazraoui.
Martinez last appeared for United against West Ham on February 10, before picking up the injury in the build-up to the win over Everton later that month.
He missed five Premier League games but returned to full training last week and was immediately reinstated in the starting XI.
Meanwhile, Mbeumo has withdrawn from his duties with Cameroon as a precautionary measure. He took part in full training during a camp in the Republic of Ireland last week, but Carrick named him in the reserves for the first time.
A win against Leeds would give United a 10-point gap between third-placed Chelsea and sixth-placed Chelsea, giving them a big boost towards qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
The Premier League has five guaranteed spots in Europe’s top club competition, but that could increase to six if Aston Villa finish fifth and win the Europa League title.
